On this episode of Be Unexpected we had the opportunity to interview the Head Volleyball Coach at Creighton University-Kirsten Booth. Listen in as we talk about her upbringing, playing career, how she got into coaching, favorite memories coaching, and how she has built Creighton into a national powerhouse! 

Coach Booth has steadily built a program that has appeared in the AVCA’s Top 25 poll each of the last 10 years. CU has reached 11 of the last 12 NCAA Tournaments, including a 2016 run to the Elite Eight, Sweet Sixteen trips in 2015 and 2016 and eight straight BIG EAST regular-season titles. Since the start of 2014, CU is 139-10 against league foes. 

Booth has led Creighton to nine conference regular-season championships in the past 10 years, a stretch that started in 2012 with an MVC crown and has extended from 2014-21 with the last eight BIG EAST titles. Coach Booth shares how she has continued that success!  Prior to coming to Creighton, Booth went a combined 112-41 in three seasons at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. All three of her teams won at least 36 matches. Her 2000 team reached the NJCAA finals before falling to St. Clair College. Her 2001 team placed fourth nationally and her 2002 club won 39 matches and had seven players earn academic all-conference honors. She was named District Coach of the Year on two different occasions. 
    In addition to her coaching responsibilities, she served as the school’s human resource coordinator, where she was in charge of staff
development and wellness for all faculty and staff at Kirkwood. She shares what it was like to handle multiple different departments and find success. Kirsten is extremely thankful for the work she had to put in.
    Booth served as a volunteer coach with the University of Iowa in the fall of 1997, helping to run drills and scout opponents. The following spring, she served as interim head coach while running practice and doing other assorted administrative tasks. She later earned her master’s degree in higher education administration with an emphasis in athletic administration from Iowa in 2000. 
    As an undergrad, Booth’s teams at Truman State went 101-54. She ran the offense as the setter and was named the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association Freshman of the Year in 1993, and earned All-MIAA accolades her final three seasons as well. She capped off her career in 1996 by earning MIAA Player of the Year honors and setting new school records for assists in a season (1,662) and career (6,077), the latter of which ranked third in NCAA history at the Division II level when she graduated. She was inducted into Truman State’s Athletic Hall of Fame in October, 2011. 

Coach Booth is one of the best coaches in the nation and enjoys building relationships with her assistant coaches and players. We are excited to watch the Creighton Volleyball team this fall!

https://gocreighton.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/coaches/kirsten-bernthal-booth/4131

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