Dripping Springs High School women’s volleyball head coach Michael Kane has acquired many accolades throughout his 26 years of coaching. Most recently winning the 6A state championship — being just the first season Dripping Springs competed in the higher division — takes his total state titles to six. He holds the title of the winningest coach in DSHS history. With more than 800 high school career wins, this makes Kane one of the winningest coaches in Texas volleyball history.
A motivational speaker with no shortage of words of wisdom, it will take effort for you to get him to talk about himself and his impressive resume without attributing his success to the amazing female athletes he’s coached.
A military brat living all over the world, Kane was born in Madrid, Spain. His family was located in bases in Oklahoma, Iceland, Greece and Lubbock until his dad retired and planted roots in Austin. Kane was part of the first graduating class at Bowie High School. Seeking the need for direction, Kane joined the military himself. He attributes his adaptable personality and strong work ethic to his military upbringing.
Setting Coach Kane apart is the culture he creates with the student-athletes. They feed off Kane’s investment and love of the game. Less than five percent of students go on to the next level after high school, and only one percent will play division one. The Dripping Springs volleyball program is averaging 35 percent going on to the next level. There is no shortage of elite athletes.
With a team so deep in talent, the question had to be asked — where are these girls coming from? Are they moving here just to play for you? Kane said all but one has been in the DSISD system since they were young, and the one who wasn’t transferred from a local private school.
Coach Kane has transformed the game of volleyball, and most importantly shaped the lives and futures of countless young women, sending them into the real world with a resilient work ethic and strong moral compass.