Vanguard University

Vanguard Career:

Kris 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 in 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 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 turn around, 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.  Arriving in Greenville, Tennessee, Vanguard lost only one pool play bout and Webber International and Arizona Christian to reach the final, beating OUAZ 3-2 to retain the National Title.

In 2021, the team played in the AVCA Small School Championship for the first time, finishing as the Runner-Up to National Champion OUAZ.  The Lions then ran the table in the Golden State Athletic Conference in 2022 but again finished second, this time at the first-ever NAIA National Invitational in Florida, though Dorn was given his first NAIA Coach of the Year honor.  
 

Prior to Vanguard:

Dorn's 21 years of collegiate experience ranges from NCAA Division I and II teams, and NAIA programs. Kristofer Dorn spent the last four years in St. Charles, Missouri at 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. It was at Clarke that he coached the team to their first NAIA National Championship appearance, and developed new strength, conditioning, and speed programs.

During his time coaching in California in the mid-2000s, Dorn was head coach of the Newport Beach Sea Hawks for the American Professional Volleyball League (APVL). He coached the top-ranked professional team during the inaugural season of the APVL. Dorn was also assistant men's and women's volleyball coach at his alma mater, California Baptist University in Riverside, where he produced five National Championships in three academic calendar years of coaching. He also holds Coach of the Year honors from Mid-American Men's Volleyball Intercollegiate Conference (MAMVIC) for two seasons.

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 is currently a on staff Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), working with coaches & athletes at Vanguard, 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 Unite States Volleyball Association (USAV) since 1997.