SHS volleyball head coach Jeff Hurst resigns, Karen Alsager returns to the helm
(Photo by ERIC PLUMMER) In this undated Daily Bee file photo, Sandpoint girls volleyball head coach Karen Alsager (center) gathers her players to give instructions before a game.
The Sandpoint girls volleyball head coach revolving door spins on.
Onetime head coach Karen Alsager was named the new Sandpoint girls volleyball head coach on Monday. Her hire comes in the wake of nine-year head coach Jeff Hurst resigning from his second stint with the program.
“I am happy to announce that we have hired Karen Alsager as our new head volleyball coach,” Sandpoint athletic director Kris Knowles wrote in an official release on Monday.“Karen is no stranger to Sandpoint volleyball, having stewarded the Bulldogs to may state trips and two 4A state titles previously.”
Alsager, who also teaches physical education at Sandpoint High School, started her first head coaching stint in 2005. In only her second season at the helm, she led Sandpoint to a 4A state title.
She cited the rigors of coaching and a lack of quality time spent with her family as reasons why she ended her first tenure as Sandpoint’s head volleyball coach, according to the Dec. 13 Daily Bee article, “Alsager steps down as Sandpoint volleyball coach.”
Sandpoint’s girls volleyball program is one of the most decorated in not only school history, but also state-wide. The Bulldogs have won 14 state titles on both the 5A and 4A levels combined.
Hurst returned to the team for the 2018 season, which saw the Bulldogs finish 21-11 — including a 4-0 record in IEL play and a 1-2 finish at state. Before that, Hurst led the Bulldogs to four state titles from 1993-2002.