Renee Saunders is one of the best Nebraska high school athletes and coaches in the state’s history. Saunders was a two-sport standout in basketball and volleyball, being named the Female Athlete of the Year in Nebraska after her senior year by the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star. Saunders attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, splitting her time between the Huskers’ basketball and volleyball teams. The Omaha native helped Nebraska Volleyball win its first national championship in program history as a freshman in 1995. After her playing career, Saunders moved into coaching where she’s excelled for over two decades. Following a nine-year stint with the Omaha South volleyball team, Saunders became the head coach at Skutt Catholic where she’s transformed the Skyhawks into one of the premier volleyball programs in the country. Skutt has won a state record nine consecutive Class B Volleyball State titles starting in 2015.
Saunders has been named the National Coach of the Year by the AVCA, VolleyballMag, Athletico and MaxPreps. She has also been named Nebraska Coach of the Year by the Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star, the first person to win the award as a player and as a coach.
