Avery High School has announced that Kim Hayes will be returning to coach the Avery Lady Vikings volleyball team this season.
Hayes, a former standout player at Lees-McRae College and at Appalachian State University, begins her second stint as coach, last leading the Lady Vikings in the 2004-05 season. Hayes replaces Coach Libby Wit, who is leaving to pursue a graduate school degree.
"I'm really excited about coming back. I thought my days were over when I had my two children, but I've decided to get back into it. I never really figured I would be able to return with the kids and with my husband traveling so much. But Libby and I are good friends and we've discussed this for several months, and she had made her decision to go back to grad school. I spoke with a lot of parents and they were encouraging and willing to help. With those things in place, I felt like I should step up and return to the program," Hayes said at her formal introduction earlier today at Avery High School. "When I was a child I grew up in the gym, so it's going to be fun to watch my three-year old and two-year old kids grow up as I was able to in my family. It's an exciting opportunity."
Coach Hayes brings a successful volleyball pedigree to the position. Kim's mother, Terri Manis, was a highly successful coach in Henderson and Avery County, and her brother Bo was also an exceptional athlete and coach, having recently been himself named to coach the Avery men's basketball program. Coach Hayes herself was a state champion player under Coach Jan Stanley with the West Henderson Lady Falcons and had a stellar playing career as a Lady Bobcat and Lady Mountaineer.
The coach is no stranger to the Avery program, as she and her children have attended a number of volleyball matches over recent seasons, and sees a strong nucleus of players who have a great potential for success in the 2008 season.
"There is a tremendous amount of talent with these girls, and it has been there for quite a while now. The girls moving up from middle school will be joining us, and it will be exciting. I coached when we were 2A, and with us now being 1A with the talent we have, state championships for Avery High is not out of the question," Hayes remarked. "Libby has done a great job with the program, and it is great to see what talent is in place."
Avery volleyball will be holding a team camp from July 28-31. There will be a camp from 9 am-noon for rising 3rd through 8th grade girls, with high school camps in the afternoon and evening for rising 9th graders through high school age.
"In the past I've held our own team camp in the area because many of the players will go to specialty camps for their position. We'll have our team camp and invite a former coach to come in and run the camp," Coach Hayes explained. "In years past, we've also had former players come back during the week and scrimmage against our current players in the evening sessions."
