Gream repeats as top NJCAA Division II volleyball head coach

Cowley College's head volleyball coach, Steven Gream, has been named the 2024 NJCAA Division II Volleyball Coach of the Year. This is his second honor in as many seasons.

Gream led the Tigers to the program's second consecutive undefeated season, capped off with the 2024 National Championship title. Cowley has won its last 81 matches, having not lost since 2022. The Tigers dropped only four sets during the entire 2024 season.

"Coach Gream and the Lady Tigers have demonstrated competitive excellence at a high and consistent level for two years running," Cowley athletic director Jeff Fluty shared. "Winning back-to-back, undefeated championships is an exceptional accomplishment. His leadership, attention to detail, and commitment to the Tiger Way is self-evident."

Gream also won his second-straight KJCCC Division II Volleyball Coach of the Year award and third in the past four years. He guided three players to an All-America Team status (Laura Bonomi, Hannah Darvas, Sara Puskas). Bonomi was named the national tournament's Most Valuable Player, while Darvas and Puskas earned spots on the All-Tournament Team. Gream was selected as the Heidi Cartisser Coach of the Tournament.

Cowley earned an automatic bid to the national tournament as the Plains A District champion. The Tigers were the No. 1 seed for the second year in a row. Cowley swept its first three opponents in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to reach the championship match. Johnson County took the first set, but the Tigers roared back, winning the next three to seal the win.

"I am very humbled and honored to receive this recognition from the NJCAA," Gream said. "I think it's more of a team award. My name may be on the award, but I think it represents a lot more than just me. It certainly is a testament to our program and the hard work of everyone involved. Starting with our players, who worked hard to enhance their skills, played at a high level, and bought into our system, vision, and philosophy…to our athletic training staff, who kept our players healthy and worked to get our players back from injury quickly…to our administration, who allowed us to do what we do and supported us along the way…to our coaching staff, who put in the hard work training our players on and off the court, scouting, recruiting the right players, and more. It was a great season, and it was a pure joy to work with our players each day and watch them compete."

Through nine seasons at the helm for Cowley, Gream holds a 307-46 overall record.