Karen Povondra enters her 26th year on the Omaha volleyball staff in 2016. Before taking on her current role, she spent 16 seasons as the program’s assistant coach and was promoted to associate head coach in 2007.
Povondra has proven to be instrumental in the success achieved by the Mavericks. She is involved in all phases of the team’s operation, including scouting, recruiting, home event management, coordinating travel arrangements, video tape production and match and practice preparation. Povondra designs all the game plans for every match through videotape and scouting analysis while serving as the program’s recruiting coordinator by evaluating correspondence and organizing campus visits.
An excellent and proven trainer and teacher of the game, Povondra is responsible for training the middle blockers as well as formulating the team’s offensive and serving tactics and strategies.
In addition to her coaching responsibilities, Povondra coordinates the highly successful Omaha volleyball camps during the summer and is an instructor in UNO’s School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.
Before joining the UNO staff, Povondra served eight years as head coach at Yutan High School, leading the team to its first state tournament appearance. She also served as an assistant basketball coach and taught physical education and mathematics.
In 1995, Povondra earned her USA Volleyball CAP Level II coaches accreditation.
As a player, Povondra was a four-year letterwinner for the Mavs from 1978 to 1981, earning All-NCC honors in her senior season. She was also voted her team’s most valuable player and outstanding defensive player. In addition, Povondra was a member of the UNO softball team in 1979 and 1980.
Povondra graduated from UNO with a bachelor’s degree in education and earned her master’s degree in physical education from UNO in 1994.
