Mike Krause has more than 30 years of coaching experience and was named the 2012 Pennsylvania Coach of the Year by the National Federation of High School Sports. A member of the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame, Coach Krause led his Parkland High School girls team to the 2011 PIAA Girls State Championship. In 2013, his Lehigh 15s team finished 5th place in the American division at USAV Nationals in Dallas. He has worked as head coach of Muhlenberg College, Lehigh University and Kutztown University, and has coached middle and high school teams and both boys and girls during his lengthy and impressive coaching career. He is also part of the broadcast team for the PIAA Championships in High School football, soccer, softball and volleyball. His daughter, Taylor Krause, begins her college career playing for Penn State University in 2014, while daughter Kristin plays 16U club volleyball.
Coaching Philosophy: I believe if you work hard and have a passion to learn about the game and to learn about yourself, you will position yourself to accomplish many things. Learning is the outcome of being challenged, and the role of the coach is to guide players as they work to overcome physical technical and tactical challenges. Come to learn and improve every day!!!
Best Volleyball Moment: Winning the Pennsylvania state championship with my daughter Taylor setting and my daughter Kristin as an 8th grade manager, and my wife Jill there along with many family and friends.
My Life in Sports: I played with the Allentown Volleyball Club for 7 years until 1985, and was the setter for East Stroudsburg State College (now Stroudsburg University) from 1975 – 1978. We were a group of guys that played other sports but really enjoyed playing volleyball. We stayed together and developed a program achieving great success, competing in the league championships, placing 2nd, fifth and 3rd respectively. I learned so much about people, traveled to some wonderful places and loved the game, Upon graduation, I wanted to return to the Lehigh Valley to teach people the game of “Power Volleyball” overcoming the stigma that “volleyball is picnic volleyball”. The game has progressed immensely!
When I’m Not Coaching Volleyball: I’m a high school health and phys ed teacher or I am watching some kind of sporting event with my wife Jill or spending time with family.
Favorite subject in school: Math!
Last Book I Read: Calico Joe by John Grisham
Favorite Movie: Hoosiers
Favorite Quote: “I Do!”
Person I’d Like to Have Dinner With: Bill Belichick or Phil Jackson, if they would share their thoughts regarding team development and sustenance.
Something You Probably Don’t Know About Me: I wrestled in an NCAA pre-season tournament. (That is a story in itself.)
