Kentucky volleyball head coach Craig Skinner has agreed to a contract extension to stay in Lexington through 2031.
Skinner has led the Cats to one national championship, nine straight SEC titles and 21 straight NCAA tournament appearances.
Here is a press release from UK Athletics:
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky volleyball head coach Craig Skinner, who has led the Wildcats to a national championship, nine consecutive Southeastern Conference titles and 21 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, has agreed to terms on a contract extension through 2031, UK Athletics Director and Champions Blue CEO J Batt announced Tuesday.
Skinner, the winningest head coach in program history, has established Kentucky as one of the nation’s premier volleyball programs. Earlier this season, the Wildcats won the 500th match of Skinner’s 22-year tenure.
“Coach Skinner represents the type of excellence we want Kentucky Athletics to stand for,” Batt said. “He has built a championship program, developed outstanding student-athletes, attracted record crowds and created an expectation to compete at the highest level year after year. We’re bullish about where Kentucky Athletics is headed, and volleyball is a great example why. Craig has built something special here, and we’re excited about what’s ahead for the program.”
“Since Megan and I arrived in Lexington in 2005, Kentucky has become our home and embraced us with open arms,” Skinner said. “We’ve won championships together, we’ve watched athletes become leaders as they graduate, and we’ve done it all with the support of Big Blue Nation by our side. We are thrilled to be a part of J’s long-term vision for Kentucky Athletics. We’re excited about our staff and continuing to build on the foundation that we’ve created alongside the momentum in the sport of volleyball. Thank you to President Capilouto, J Batt, Rachel Newman Baker and Katie Eiserman for their trust in me and continued support of Kentucky Volleyball, and let’s go finish 2026 strong!”
Since taking over the program in December 2004, Skinner has transformed Kentucky into a perennial national contender. The Wildcats have advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of his 21 seasons, highlighted by the 2020 NCAA National Championship, the first volleyball national title in Southeastern Conference history, and Final Four appearances in 2020 and 2025. Skinner was named the AVCA National Coach of the Year following the championship season.
Kentucky has also won nine consecutive SEC championships beginning in 2017 and continuing through the 2025 season. The Wildcats have reached 11 NCAA Sweet 16s since 2009 and four Elite Eights while producing 27 All-America honors during Skinner’s tenure. He has been named SEC Coach of the Year eight times and AVCA All-South Region Coach of the Year four times.
Skinner arrived at Kentucky after the program had gone more than a decade without an NCAA Tournament appearance. In his first season, he led the Wildcats to a 17-12 record and their first NCAA berth since 1993. Kentucky has not missed the tournament since, developing from a program seeking to return to national relevance into one that has consistently competed for conference and national championships.
Kentucky returns to action Wednesday at 7 p.m. at No. 9 Tennessee. The No. 4 Wildcats’ next home match will be vs. No. 19 Texas A&M, Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. in a rematch of the 2025 NCAA National Championship Match.
