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Head Coach
Bernie Kachinko
570-208-5900, extension 5435
bernardkachinko@kings.edu
Beginning his 20th season as head coach of the Lady Monarchs in 2008, Bernie Kachinko has developed King's volleyball into one of the top programs in the MAC.
Kachinko took over a struggling King's program in 1989 and went through the initial growing pains of a rebuilding process. King's broke through in his third season when he led the team to a then school-record for wins (14) in 1991, while matching the mark in 1992 as well.
In 1993, Kachinko led the Lady Monarchs to their first-ever MAC Freedom Conference championship, posting a 25-7 mark. The team then earned its second consecutive post-season berth in 1994 with a runner-up league finish. King's qualified for the MAC playoffs in 1998, then concluded an outstanding 24-6 season in 1999 which included another MAC playoff berth.In 2000, King's enjoyed a brilliant season with a 34-3 record, the MAC Freedom title, and an NCAA Division III National Tournament berth. In 2001 Lady Monarchs then went 29-4 and finished second in the conference playoffs.
The 2002 Lady Monarch squad enjoyed their best season ever with a 39-2 record, posting the best winning percentage of any collegiate volleyball team at the NCAA Division I, II, or III levels. King's won their third MAC Freedom title and advanced to the NCAA "Sweet 16" for the first time in school history.
Coach Kachinko is a graduate of Wyoming Valley West High School where he was a two-time conference all-star, leading the team to the Wyoming Valley Conference championship with a perfect 10-0 record. He continued his playing career at the Division I level at East Stroudsburg University, before transferring to Penn State University where he graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications.
Kachinko is King's all-time winningest coach with a 363-241 career record entering the 2008 season. He was named the MAC Freedom "Coach of the Year" in 1993, 2000, and 2002.
Since taking over the Lady Monarch program in 1989, Kachinko has produced 37 MAC all-star performers. His players were named the MAC Freedom "Most Valuable Player" in 1995, 2000, 2002, and 2003 while Kachinko also coached the MAC Freedom "Rookie of the Year" in 1998, 1999, and 2000.
Kachinko has produced seven AVCA Mid-Atlantic Regional All-Americans and one AVCA National All-American. He has also coached 46 players who were named to the MAC All-Academic Team.
Kachinko also served as head coach of the men's club volleyball program, which no longer exists at King's. During his tenure from 1992-through-2001, Kachinko led the men's squad to an outstanding 252-53 record while his teams were ranked nationally in the Division II Club Team Top-25 for seven years. The team placed third in the 2002 national club tournament while also finishing in the top-five in 1999 and 2001. His King's teams won four Middle Atlantic Club Volleyball Conference championships during his tenure.
He is a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association; the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association; and the MAC Volleyball Committee. In 2003, Kachinko began serving on the AVCA Top-25 National Rankings Committee.
Coach Kachinko and his wife Marina, a 1986 King's graduate, reside in Wilkes-Barre. They are the parents of a son, Lukas Kachinko, age two.
Last Updated 8/8/08
Assistant Coach
Jason Jones
570-208-5900, extension 5435
In March of 2005, former King's College men's volleyball standout Jason Jones returned to his alma-mater to become assistant coach of the Lady Monarch program.
Jones provides the Lady Monarchs with a tremendous amount of experience and knowledge with a strong ability to teach.
Jones began his collegiate coaching career at College Misericordia in 1998 where he served as an assistant on the women's team for two years. He was then promoted to the top spot and served as head coach of the Lady Cougars from 2000-2003. Jones compiled a 42-69 four-year record, leading the team to Pennsylvania Athletic Conference playoffs berths in 2000 and 2002.
A 1991 graduate of Wyoming Area High School, Jones led the boy's volleyball team to its only PIAA state tournament appearance under Kachinko in 1990. He continued his career at King's, playing for the college's highly successful men's club volleyball team where he helped guide the team to a four-year 77-18 record.
During his time with the Monarchs, Jones was part of a King's men's club program that won two Middle Atlantic Volleyball Conference championships and earned a top-25 finish in the National Recreation and Sport Club Volleyball National Championships in Minneapolis, MN in 1995.
Jason and his wife Sue are expecting their first child in the late fall.
Updated: 8/8/08
Assistant Coach
Steve Hoeft
570-208-5900, extension 5435
Steve Hoeft enters his 11th year on the King’s coaching staff, returning to the program for his second stint as an assistant coach after a four-year sabbatical for professional reasons due to obligations with his full time employment. A big part of King’s volleyball for nearly 20 years, Hoeft provides a great deal of knowledge and experience to share with the team.
Hoeft is a 1993 King’s graduate where he was one of the original members of the college’s one-time club team that was founded in 1990 where he played for Coach Kachinko. Hoeft was on the sidelines as an assistant coach at King’s for the Lady Monarchs’ Freedom Conference championship teams in 2000 and 2002. He also served as an assistant coach with the men’s club team until 2001.
Hoeft graduated from King’s with a degree in accounting and is a Divisional Systems Consultant for Automatic Data Processing (ADP), for which he has worked for the past 13 years.
Hoeft is married to the former Paula DeTemple, who also played volleyball at King's, graduating in 1994. The couple are the proud parents of two children, Sarah (8) and Aidan (4), who attend many of the team’s games. The couple resides nearby in Mountain Top.
Updated: 9/5/08
King's College
133 North River Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
1 (888) KINGS PA
Questions or comments to: Bob Ziadie, King's College Sports Information Director
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