2025 Keynote Speakers
Ray Bechard
Head coach Ray Bechard is in his 27th season leading the Kansas Volleyball program in 2024. Bechard, a five-time Big 12 Coach of the Year, has a career record of 469-308 (.603) while at Kansas, which includes a mark of 167-50 (.770) during a stretch that included six consecutive NCAA Tournaments for the Jayhawks from 2012-17. During his Hall of Fame career at Kansas, Bechard took the Jayhawks to 12 NCAA Tournaments, including three Sweet Sixteen’s and the 2015 Final Four, while also leading KU to the 2016 Big 12 Championship. He has coached 26 players who reached All-American status during their time at Kansas. In a career that spans 38 seasons, Bechard has received inductions into three Halls of Fame: NJCAA Volleyball Coaches, Barton County Community College Sports, and Kansas Volleyball Association. In addition, he’s a three-time AVCA Region Coach of the Year at KU and he earned several Coach of the Year honors at the junior college level. Bechard came to KU in 1998 following 13 seasons on the sidelines of Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kansas. In his time at Barton, Bechard posted a career record of 716-60 (.923) and coached 23 Academic All-Americans. He completed his time at Barton County with the highest all-time winning percentage among two-year college coaches and ranked fourth all-time with 716 wins. Following his departure from Barton, Bechard was inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association Volleyball Hall of Fame in 1998. Bechard began his coaching career as the head coach of girl's volleyball and boy's basketball at Lewis High School in Lewis, Kansas, from 1980-83. There he coached LHS to a pair of conference titles in volleyball. A native of Grinnell, Kansas, Bechard played basketball at Barton Country, where he helped the Cougars to a 45-13 record in his two seasons. Following his junior college playing career, Bechard attended Fort Hays State University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1980. Two years later, he received his master’s degree in physical education from FHSU. Bechard is married to the former Pamela Brown. The couple has two children and six grandchildren. Their daughter, Ashley, was a Kansas Volleyball letterwinner from 2001-04 and married Erik Henkelman in 2011. Erik and Ashley have three children – Evelyn (Evie), Hutchins, and Mason Jane. Their son, Brennan, played on the Kansas Men’s Basketball team from 2007-09 and is currently the men’s basketball director of operations. He married former Kansas Track & Field student-athlete Danielle Hayes and they have three children – Lucy, Mack, and Bo.
Kandice P. Mitchell
Kandice P. Mitchell is the Director of Athletics at Drew Charter School. A former NCAA Champion and Southwest Conference Champion as a track and field athlete at the University of Texas, she later earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a master’s in education from Georgia State University. With a career spanning teaching, coaching, and athletic administration, Kandice has served in various capacities, including varsity football, basketball, and track coach, and held leadership roles in Griffin-Spalding, Clayton, and Henry County schools. Her previous roles also include Assistant Director of Athletics for Atlanta Public Schools and Director of Football Development for USA Football. A former USA Track & Field junior team member, women’s professional football player, and 2017 Women’s Football Team USA Gold Medalist, Kandice has earned numerous accolades, including the NIAAA Award of Merit for Georgia and multiple Athletic Director of the Year honors. She has served on several boards, including the GHSA Board of Trustees, GADA Board of Directors, and USA Football’s Board of Directors. Kandice is also a proud mother of three accomplished student-athletes and remains active as a flag football player and cyclist. Her passion for education-based athletics and commitment to student success continue to inspire those she leads.
J Walters
Dr. Joey Walters was the Deputy Executive Director of the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) from 2006 - 2025. Walters served as the state rules interpreter for basketball and soccer while his other responsibilities with the AAA included public relations, eligibility interpretations, superintendent and principal meetings, legislative relations, and directing the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star Games and Coaches Clinic. During his nineteen years with the AAA Walters served on the NFHS Basketball Rules Committee, NFHS Soccer Rules Committee, NFHS Sports Medicine Committee, NFHS Coach of the Year Committee, and NFHS Coaching Today committee. Walters was also a 2019 NFHS Citation Award Winner. Before joining the Arkansas Activities Association he was superintendent of schools for the West Fork School District. During Joey’s 15 years at West Fork, he worked in numerous roles that included coach, business teacher, athletic director, principal, and superintendent. Walters is married to Dr. Karen Walters (superintendent of the Bryant School District). They have four children Lane, Madelyn and husband Josh, Matthew, and Luke, and three grandchildren Chloe, Clinton, and Jovie. Now that Joey is retired you will find him either chasing the grandchildren, on the golf course, fly fishing the Spring River, or helping his father-in-law on the tree farm.