Vanguard University

Kris Dorn has a combined seven National Championship titles in women’s indoor volleyball, men’s indoor volleyball, and beach volleyball over his storied coaching career and has made Vanguard Beach Volleyball a program that stands out on the West Coast.

Vanguard Career:

Dorn founded the Beach Volleyball program at Vanguard University in Spring 2017, earning the program’s first victory over Cal State LA on March 13, 2018, and defeating an NCAA Division I program for the first time with a 3-2 victory over Missouri State University in year two.  The program did not lose a GSAC game for three years in a row between 2021-2023, capturing three regular season and tournament titles along the way.  His vision fully bloomed at the end of the 2023 season, as the Lions captured their first NAIA Championship at the NAIA Invitational, defeating OUAZ, Westcliff, and Corban in the final bracket.  He was named the NAIA Coach of the Year for the second year in a row for the team's accomplishment.  He then was given the honor for a third-straight year as his team repeated as NAIA National Champions in 2024.  Despite losing the last seven matches of the regular season, Dorn facilitated a complete turnaround, as VU won eight of nine playoff games the rest of the campaign.  The Lions won all three matches at the GSAC Tournament to win the event for the fourth year in a row and then arrived in Greenville, Tennessee, for the NAIA Invitational.  Vanguard lost only one pool play bout and beat Webber International and Arizona Christian to reach the final, beating OUAZ 3-2 to earn back-to-back National Titles.

As of 2025, Vanguard has produced multiple All-Americans, All-Conference selections, Pairs of the Week honors, and All-Academic Team winners. 

Beyond success on the beach courts, Dorn says their real victories stem from young women who fight for a Culture of Honor.  "Watching these student-athletes be vulnerable together, call each other up, and fight for each other is an incredible blessing," he said.  "Every year I am amazed at the quality of character and work ethic that combine to form a special community of love and respect.”

Prior to Vanguard:

Dorn's years of collegiate experience range from NCAA Division I and II teams, and NAIA programs. He spent the four years prior to VU in St. Charles, Missouria, t Lindenwood University, where he served as head men's volleyball coach. He brought that team to their highest finish in the MIVA conference in Lindenwood volleyball history. Prior to that, Dorn spent four years in Iowa at Clarke University, serving as head men's volleyball coach, where he led the team to their highest overall win percentage in university history. Another milestone for Dorn at Clarke was coaching the team to their first NAIA National Championship appearance, along with developing new strength, conditioning, and speed programs.  Dorn holds Coach of the Year honors from Mid-American Men’s Volleyball Intercollegiate Conference (MAMVIC) for two seasons and produced multiple All-MAMVIC athletes.

During his time coaching in California in the mid-2000s, Dorn was the head coach of the Newport Beach Sea Hawks for the American Professional Volleyball League (APVL), coaching the top-ranked professional team during the inaugural season of the league. Dorn was also the assistant men's and women's volleyball coach at his alma mater, California Baptist University in Riverside, where his teams produced five National Championships in three academic calendar years of coaching.

Dorn’s career stretches even further with women’s indoor volleyball stints at Samford University, where he left with the highest overall win percentage, Seton Hall University, and Liberty University, where the program won both regular season and conference championships with multiple All-Conference athletes (including Kris’ younger sister Kyrie).

Personal:

A graduate of Taylor University, Dorn went on to receive his Master’s of Science in kinesiology and sport management at California Baptist University. Dorn has served on staff with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) for the past seven years, working with coaches & athletes at Vanguard.  In 2024 he moved the ministry totally under the umbrella of Vanguard University, as the director of Beyond Athletics Ministry (BAM).  Dorn is a certified coach for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), and is a certified referee and participant for United States Volleyball Association (USAV).

Dorn’s wife, Jennifer ("JP"), serves as the women’s head indoor volleyball coach at VU.  They are blessed with their son, Caden.