Coach Kris Kern, a 1977 Lancaster High School graduate, has yet to be inducted into the LHS Gary Mauller Athletic Wall of Fame despite numerous nomination attempts highlighting all of his great accomplishments. Please sign this petition to show your support for his induction.  Please note: No donation is necessary, if prompted to donate!

Coach Kern is a dynamic community leader and life mentor to many.  Coach Kern has been labeled as one of the winningest coaches in Ohio High School history.  Now as a NAIA D1 Head volleyball coach, he recently passed his 900th coaching win.

To quote sports writer, Tom Wilson of the Lancaster Eagle Gazette(OH) in his April 2, 2023 article about Coach Kern titled: Kris Kern: A motivator and a dreamer who has built a winning culture like no other "I’ve covered high school sports for 30 years and I have never come across a coach as successful as Kern has been at so many different places and different levels."

Coach Kris Kern is currently the head volleyball coach at the University of Pikeville and has earned his Master of Science Degree.  To see his accomplishments visit his website at www.CoachKern.com
Some of Coach Kern's achievements include:

• ALL-TIME Volleyball Career Wins Leader in Ohio High School Volleyball (762-82).
• 3 Time All Ohio High School State Coaches Achievement Award Recipient.
• 2 Ohio High School State Championship Final 4 Appearances.
• 2021 MEC Coach of the Year (NCAA D2)
• 40 various Coach of the Year Awards, Including National, State, District, and League Awards.
• 100+ High School Players Coached have gone on to collegiate play.
• U-19 World Tournament Championship
• High School Championships Including:
2 Regional Ohio HS Championships, 14 Ohio HS District Titles, 33 Ohio HS Sectional Championships, 19 Ohio HS Conference Championships.
• NCAA (D2) Collegiate Back to Back-2 Conference Championships, 2021 NCAA (D2) Tournament Invitation      • NCAA (D2) Collegiate Tournament Win-1st in West Virginia State University History. Atlantic Region Player of the Year.                                                                        •NCAA (D1) Coach. Has now obtained over 900 career wins, with 40 seasons of 20+ wins per season.                                                                             

While coaching for Lancaster High School, Coach Kern achieved:
• 16 Various Coach of the Year Awards.
• 11 Conference Championships.
• Lancaster High School Record for total wins.
• 15 players successfully placed on College Teams.
• Created the Karen Wohrer Memorial VB Tournament in 1989 which still exists to date as the Shaner-Wohrer VB tournament. His creation of that tournament continues to bring to light social awareness of breast cancer and the importance of finding a cure, in many age demographics and in a unique platform that Lancaster High School can be very proud to host as a legacy for almost 35 years now.

Along with that mindset, in all of his coaching positions, Coach Kris Kern encourages student-athletes to be the best they can be as students and as citizens. Coach Kern's teams are often awarded all academic honor teams, lead in fundraising for their schools, and also leads and encourages the students to perform hundreds of community service hours each year as a team. This includes serving meals at shelters, to give students a perspective of struggles in their community and beyond, and how important it is for them to continue to give back to their communities. His leadership has played a pivotal role in over 100+ student-athletes receiving scholarships and continuing their sports career beyond the high school level.                                     

Throughout his life, Kris has impacted the lives of tens of thousands of student-athletes as a coach, and mentor, as an umpire for baseball and softball, an official for basketball and volleyball, and as an athlete. Kris started coaching and officiating in his teen years. He was also a letterman for the Lancaster High School Men's Soccer team, Cross Country and Track Teams. Kris also played Soccer at Mount Union University.

Over the years, beyond his team coaching, Kris has held hundreds of camps for students of all ages to instill in them confidence and skills, along with educating them on the importance of fitness, focus, and positive attitudes. Not only does Coach Kern offer camps, but he often voluntarily travels to speak at other camps to encourage students and continue to help those coaches and athletes grow. For example, Coach Kern has often returned to his hometown to speak with student-athletes at LHS and the other schools in the Lancaster City School system.

I can't think of a more deserving applicant for induction for the LHS Gary Mauller Athletic Wall of Honor than Coach Kris Kern.   Also, knowing Kris's close relationship with the late Gary Mauller, I have no doubt that Mr. Mauller would believe that Coach Kris Kern is more than deserving to have his picture on an honor wall bearing his name.  Despite requests for the information, it is unknown who is on the selection committee or the status of Coach Kern's nomination.  

Thank you for your support of Coach Kris Kern!