Jay Kam named new Augsburg volleyball head coach

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MINNEAPOLIS — Jay Kam, who has developed Century College into a junior-college volleyball power over the past decade, has been named as the new head coach of the Augsburg University volleyball team, the university has announced.
 
Kam, who started the volleyball program at Century, an NJCAA program in White Bear Lake, Minn., in 2018, has compiled a 96-44 record in the team’s five seasons as a varsity program (2019, 2021-24). The Wood Ducks have reached the NJCAA Division III National Championships each of the last three seasons, finishing fourth nationally in 2022, as national runner-up in 2023 and fourth nationally in 2024. Century athletes have earned five NJCAA All-American honors in the past three seasons.
 
The Wood Ducks went 28-6 in 2024, finishing second in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference South Division standings with a 10-2 record, finished second in the MCAC South in 2023 with a 29-5 overall (13-2 MCAC) record, and won the MCAC South title in 2022 with a 24-7 overall (14-2 MCAC) record. Century won the NJCAA Region 13A championship, along with the North Plains A District championship, in both 2022 and 2023.
 
“I’m thrilled to officially join Augsburg Athletics and its rich history,” Kam said. “Being part of a program that values excellence, integrity, and community is an incredible honor. Augsburg’s mission to develop student-athletes through leadership, service, and a commitment to both academic and athletic success perfectly aligns with my own goals and values.”
 
Kam was named NJCAA Region 13A and North Plains A District Coach of the Year in both 2022 and 2023, and MCAC South Division Coach of the Year in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
 
In addition to his coaching at Century, Kam has served as a head coach and age division lead for the Kokoro Volleyball club program in Lake Elmo, Minn., since 2021. In 2024, Kam also served as U15 head coach for the North Country Region High Performance Regional Development Program.
 
Kam received his bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Seattle Pacific University (Wash.) in 2000, and his master’s degree in physical education from Minnesota State University Mankato in 2013. He also served on the exercise science faculty at Normandale Community College (Minn.) from 2013 to 2018.
 
“I’m excited for the journey ahead — to grow as a person, compete at a high level, and contribute to a team and school that stands for something greater than just the game,” Kam said. “The goal is to give our student-athletes a great experience as they continue the next part of their journey, as they work towards graduation. For the greater student body and community, we want to create a fun product for students and fans to gather and support. Let’s go Auggies!”
 
Kam will be the 12th head coach in the history of the Augsburg volleyball program, which will begin its 54th season (1972-present) this fall. Kam replaces April Elsbernd, who led the Auggies to a 16-14 record and 7-4 mark in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play in 2024. Elsbernd resigned in February to become the new head coach at her alma mater, Coe College (Iowa).
 
Augsburg has been among the consistent leaders in MIAC volleyball during the last two decades. Augsburg has finished among the top seven teams in the MIAC standings every year since 2008, earning berths in the MIAC postseason playoffs 11 times in the past 15 full (non-COVID) seasons. Augsburg won MIAC regular-season titles in 2013, 2014 and 2016 and advanced to NCAA Division III national tournament competition in 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2019.

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