Friday, December 9th, 2022
Kramer earns national honor
By Gary R. Rasberry
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard
New Bremen volleyball coach Diana Kramer talks to her team during the 2022 Division IV state championship match. File photo.
New Bremen volleyball coach Diana Kramer was named a National Coach of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association on Thursday. Kramer shared the award with Suzanne Marble of La Conner High School in Washington, who guided her team to a fourth straight state championship and seventh overall this past season.
"It was something I'll never forget in receiving that kind of news," said Kramer about finding out on Monday about the award. "I don't earn this award without everybody else: the players, current players and former players, the coaches I coach with, the communities (New Bremen and St. Henry). The award may have my name on it, but there's so many people that deserve credit for it. … Everybody from the school systems, the communities - New Bremen, St. Henry, the MAC communities. Then obviously my family.
"It's just incredibly humbling. I know there's a lot of coaches out there a lot better than me. I'm trying to learn from them. To earn this award, it leaves me speechless."
In 13 seasons of coaching at St. Henry and now New Bremen, the former St. Henry and Duquesne University standout is 315-40. Kramer won a state title while coaching at St. Henry in 2011 and has won three state titles at New Bremen, in 2017, 2019 and 2022. Kramer has been an Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association's Coach of the Year on six occasions (2011, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022) and received the OHSVCA Coaches Achievement Award in 2012, 2016, 2019 and 2020.
Kramer and her family will travel to Omaha, Nebraska, next week to accept her award. While in Omaha, Kramer will get a chance to take in the NCAA Division I National Championship semifinals and finals.
"To be able to watch volleyball at that level is incredible," said Kramer. "(Volleyball) is growing as a sport on the girls side, the boys side and now (with beach) volleyball. I saw stats recently how much volleyball is growing. The Sweet 16 was on television (on Thursday) and my daughter's really excited Ohio State won and is playing in the Elite Eight on Saturday for a chance to go to the Final Four. We're huge Buckeye fans right now, hoping that they get to watch them play in Omaha."
