Craig Skinner volleyball

John Craig Skinner, born on June 4, 1969, is the head volleyball coach at the University of Kentucky. Known as the winningest coach in Kentucky's history, he led the team to their first NCAA national championship in 2020. Originally from Muncie, Indiana, Skinner played volleyball at Ball State and football at Michigan before pursuing coaching. He has coached high school and club teams, notably making Munciana a national powerhouse. Skinner's collegiate coaching career began at Wisconsin under John Cook, contributing to a 68–35 record. He then joined Ball State's men's team as an assistant for two seasons. In 2000, he moved to Nebraska as an assistant coach and was promoted to head assistant in 2003, helping the team achieve a 154–11 record, including a national title and four Big 12 titles. A unique fact about his time at Nebraska is that they created a metal monument of him, which he later had destroyed. Choosing Kentucky for its academic reputation and proximity to talent, Skinner transformed the program into a consistent NCAA Tournament contender. His tenure includes 16 consecutive tournament appearances, with 12 seasons recording over 20 wins. Prior to his arrival, the team hadn't made the tournament since 1993. In 2020, he led them to their first national title, winning all but two sets and becoming one of 11 schools to achieve a volleyball championship. Skinner's teams have garnered numerous All-America distinctions and SEC honors. He has extended his contract through 2027 and continues to build success, including seven straight ...