Boise State Athletics
Hazard Named to AVCA Thirty Under 30 List
3/16/2026 5:00:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball
BOISE, Idaho - Boise State beach volleyball assistant coach McKayla Hazard was named to the 2026 class of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Thirty Under 30.
Hazard was recognized as one of the top club coaches in the country through her work at the Kokua Volleyball Club in Spokane, Wash. Before joining the Broncos as an assistant coach last August, Hazard spent five years as the head coach and mindfulness director for the organization. In that time frame, she played a major role in growing the program from two athletes in 2019 to a club that serves over 200.
As the elite team head coach, she led the squad to a BVCA National Championship at the club division, becoming the first club from the Northwest to do so. She also claimed a second-place finish in the futures division.
"I'm extremely honored by this recognition," Hazard said. "I can't thank the Kokua Volleyball Club directors enough for the opportunity to do what I love. We've just tried to make an impact. With all of the great club coaches in the country, I'm deeply honored that they picked me."
The recognition marks the second coach on staff who has been recognized by the AVCA. Head coach Alex Venardos earned the honor in 2023 when he was an assistant coach with the Broncos.
Hazard began her coaching career as a volunteer assistant for Gonzaga's indoor team from 2019-20 and stayed on as a consultant to the program in 2021. She was involved in all aspects of the team, including practice planning, pregame film, scouting, running specialized position training for pin hitters, recruiting and mental performance training.
Prior to joining the staff with the Zags, Hazard spent her fifth year of NCAA eligibility competing as a member of the top pair for nationally ranked Loyola Marymount. As team captain, she was named West Coast Conference First Team All-Conference, WCC First-Team All-Academic, and was nominated for the WCC Female Student-Athlete Sportsmanship. She graduated with a Master's in educational studies.
Prior to that, she spent all four years of her indoor career at Gonzaga, where she surpassed 1,000 career kills. Academically, she was named a WCC All-Academic First Team member and two-time WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention recipient. She also earned the Basha Academic Athlete Award, the Basha Outstanding Academic Accomplishment, Dr. Voie Stuart Chase Coy Scholar-Athlete Award and was the recipient of the Father Schlatter S.J. Book Award.
In her first season on the Bronco coaching staff, Hazard has helped guide Boise State to a 7-5 mark so far on the year. Boise State, who is in its first year competing as members of the Big 12, will play three ranked opponents at the Death Volley Invitational this season.
Hazard was recognized as one of the top club coaches in the country through her work at the Kokua Volleyball Club in Spokane, Wash. Before joining the Broncos as an assistant coach last August, Hazard spent five years as the head coach and mindfulness director for the organization. In that time frame, she played a major role in growing the program from two athletes in 2019 to a club that serves over 200.
As the elite team head coach, she led the squad to a BVCA National Championship at the club division, becoming the first club from the Northwest to do so. She also claimed a second-place finish in the futures division.
"I'm extremely honored by this recognition," Hazard said. "I can't thank the Kokua Volleyball Club directors enough for the opportunity to do what I love. We've just tried to make an impact. With all of the great club coaches in the country, I'm deeply honored that they picked me."
The recognition marks the second coach on staff who has been recognized by the AVCA. Head coach Alex Venardos earned the honor in 2023 when he was an assistant coach with the Broncos.
Hazard began her coaching career as a volunteer assistant for Gonzaga's indoor team from 2019-20 and stayed on as a consultant to the program in 2021. She was involved in all aspects of the team, including practice planning, pregame film, scouting, running specialized position training for pin hitters, recruiting and mental performance training.
Prior to joining the staff with the Zags, Hazard spent her fifth year of NCAA eligibility competing as a member of the top pair for nationally ranked Loyola Marymount. As team captain, she was named West Coast Conference First Team All-Conference, WCC First-Team All-Academic, and was nominated for the WCC Female Student-Athlete Sportsmanship. She graduated with a Master's in educational studies.
Prior to that, she spent all four years of her indoor career at Gonzaga, where she surpassed 1,000 career kills. Academically, she was named a WCC All-Academic First Team member and two-time WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention recipient. She also earned the Basha Academic Athlete Award, the Basha Outstanding Academic Accomplishment, Dr. Voie Stuart Chase Coy Scholar-Athlete Award and was the recipient of the Father Schlatter S.J. Book Award.
In her first season on the Bronco coaching staff, Hazard has helped guide Boise State to a 7-5 mark so far on the year. Boise State, who is in its first year competing as members of the Big 12, will play three ranked opponents at the Death Volley Invitational this season.
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