Ken Ko completed his fifth season as associate head coach for the University of San Francisco volleyball team in 2014, after joining Gilad Doron's staff Sept. 17, 2010.
His hiring at USF was a homecoming of sorts for Ko, who began his collegiate coaching career at USF in 2000 as a volunteer assistant coach. Ko is a Bay Area native and attended Skyline High School in Oakland.
An 18-year coaching veteran, Ko came to the Hilltop after a two-year stint at the University of Florida. During both seasons, the Gators advanced to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament and finished 25-6 last season and 27-4 in 2008. Florida won the Southeastern Conference Championship in 2008. Â
Ko’s responsibilities at Florida included assisting with offensive coordination and opponent scouting, while also acting as the recruiting coordinator for the Gators.
Before moving to Gainesville, Ko spent three seasons at Washington State University from 2005-07. He served as the associate head coach during his final two seasons in Pullman. Ko’s responsibilities included coordinating the team’s defensive and blocking schemes. During his time with the Cougars, his team won a Pac-10 conference blocking title and finished in the top 10 in blocking in the country in 2005.
In his first year at Florida, Kristy Jaeckel and Colleen Ward were both named to the SEC All-Freshman team, with Kelly Murphy earning Freshman-of-the Year honors. Four of his players were named to the Pac-10 Conference All-Freshman team in Ko’s three years at Washington State.
Ko spent three years at California State Fullerton from 2002-04, where he helped guide the Titans to a school-record 11 home wins in 2004. Before heading to Fullerton, Ko was an assistant coach for one season at Colgate University.
In addition to his collegiate experience, Ko has significant experience working with the USA Volleyball program. He was an assistant coach for the Junior National Select A1 Team in Fort Lauderdale in 2008, along with being an assistant coach for the Junior National Select A2 Team in both 2005 and 2006.
Ko began his coaching career at Miramonte High School in Orinda, Calif. as head coach and program director for the girl’s program in 1995. In six seasons, his teams went 151-24 and won four league titles. His 1996 Miramonte team won a California Interscholastic Federation section title and advanced to the state semifinals. Ko was named Contra Costa Times Coach of the Year in 1998. In 2001, Ko took over the boy’s program at Miramonte for one season.
While at Miramonte, Ko coached Nicole Branagh, who went on to become a two-time All-American at Minnesota and the 2005 AVP Tour Rookie of the Year. Branagh was also a member of the United States’ No. 2 beach volleyball team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic games.
Ko received his bachelor of science degree in Physical Education (Biomechanics) from the University of California-Davis in 1993. He played volleyball for the Aggies for three seasons as an outside hitter. After graduation he worked in the physical therapy field until 2000.
