Prigge Named New Head Coach for Cowgirl Volleyball

Cody TuckerPublished: November 23, 2022

University of Wyoming Director of Athletics Tom Burman announced Tuesday that Kaylee Prigge will be the new Head Coach of the Cowgirl Volleyball program. Prigge, who has spent the past four seasons on the UW bench, has been the Associate Head Coach for the past two seasons and was the Recruiting Coordinator in each of the last three. Prigge is the 14th head coach in program history./ UW courtesy photo

* University of Wyoming press release

LARAMIE -- University of Wyoming Director of Athletics Tom Burman announced Tuesday that Kaylee Prigge will be the new head coach of the Cowgirl Volleyball program.

Prigge, who has spent the past four seasons on the UW bench, has been the associate head coach for the past two seasons and was the recruiting coordinator in each of the last three.

Prigge is the 14^th head coach in program history.

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“We are excited to announce the hiring of Kaylee Prigge as our new head coach for Cowgirl Volleyball,” Burman said. “Kaylee is a talented coach, who has done an outstanding job here at Wyoming the past four seasons, including the last two as our associate head coach. She has a passion for coaching, having grown up in a coaching family. Her father, Dirk Koetter, is a long-time college and NFL coach. We believe Kaylee will bring great energy to our volleyball program, and we look forward to an exciting future for our program under her direction.”

“Thank you to Wyoming Athletics Director Tom Burman, Deputy Director of Athletics Matt Whisenant and Associate AD for Internal Operations/SWA Taylor Stuemky for believing in me and entrusting me with the University of Wyoming volleyball program,” said Prigge. “I am beyond grateful and excited for the tremendous opportunity to lead the Cowgirls. I have been extremely fortunate in my career to work with amazing people, who have prepared me for this role. Chad Callihan is at the top of that list. I can’t thank Chad enough for the initial opportunity here at UW and for his mentorship over the last four years. My husband and I are thrilled to continue to be a part of this incredible community of people. We know firsthand what an awesome place Laramie is. I know what it takes to be successful at this university and in the Mountain West Conference.

"This program is so special, I love being a Cowgirl and am fired up to get back to work with our talented group of student-athletes. Together, we will work to compete at the top of the Mountain West.”

During her tenure with Wyoming, Prigge has helped guide seven All-Mountain West honorees, including Jackie McBride, who became the first player in Mountain West history to receive a fifth all-league honor in 2021.

Prigge helped UW to a 22-win season in 2019, the sixth-most victories in a single season in program history. The Cowgirls, who finished second in the Mountain West in 2019, recorded 16 conference wins, the most in program history.

Prigge came to Wyoming after spending two years as an assistant coach at the University of Illinois-Chicago. During her time at UIC, Prigge helped lead the Flames to two-straight seasons of 17 wins or more. In 2018, the Flames finished fourth in the Horizon League, reaching 10 conference wins in Horizon League play for the first time since 2012.

She helped coach two student-athletes to First Team All-Horizon League and All-Freshman honors.

In 2017, Prigge helped guide the Flames to a 17-13 overall record, where she coached an All-Horizon League First Team honoree, as well as a pair to the All-Freshman Team.

Prior to arriving at UIC, Prigge served as an assistant coach at Southern Illinois, where she was key in planning the program’s recruiting efforts, organizing summer camps and handling day-to-day office operations.

Prigge started her coaching career at her alma mater, the University of Tampa, where she was on staff from 2013-14 and 2015-17.

Prigge helped the Spartans to a Sunshine State Conference title in all three seasons of her tenure, as well as a South Region championship and Elite Eight appearance in 2013. During her time on staff at Tampa, she helped oversee the development of a Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (CCA) National Player of the Year, seven AVCA All-Americans, eight All-Region honorees, and nine Sunshine State All-Conference players.

In addition to her work in collegiate volleyball, Prigge served as an assistant coach for the Florida Wave of the USA Premier Volleyball League (USAPVL) in 2016, helping the squad win the league championship. She has also been heavily involved in the club volleyball scene with A5 Volleyball, Tampa Bay One, as well as 1st Alliance Volleyball Club.

As a student-athlete, Prigge played at Tampa from 2010-12. She was a member of three SSC and South Region championship squads. A member of the SSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll, she also helped the Spartans reach two national championship matches in three years.

Prigge obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from the University of Tampa in May 2014.