Kristen Karlik comes to us from UCCS where she was named the Assistant Coach in March 2022 after returning from a stellar career as a coach and player overseas.
 
Karlik spent eight years in Denmark as a professional player and coach.  She spent the 2020-21 season in Odense, Denmark as the Boldklubben Marienlyst assistant men's volleyball coach.  Karlik was a technical trainer for the individual and team development while also being responsible for setting and blocking tactics during matches.  She helped Boldklubben Marienlyst win the silver medal as two players were selected to the All-League team.
 
From 2013-18, Karlik led the Fortuna Odense Volley Club Team as the head coach.  She oversaw and managed all aspects of the elite team while preparing daily practice plans, scouting opponents and working on team tactics.  In her first year at the helm, Karlik led Fortuna to the Bronze medal in league play.  She also coached the league's Most Valuable Player in each of her first two seasons.
 
Between coaching positions, Karlik served as a physical education teacher for the Odense International School from 2016-18, and also the Athletic Director for OIS from 2018-21.  As the physical education teach, she created and implemented PE curriculum for all students in grades first through 10th grade.  As the Athletic Director, Karlik coordinated all sports activities for OIS and was also the head trainer for all sporting events that OIS competed in.
 
Karlik's career in Denmark started in 2009 when she played the 2009-10 season with the Fortuna Odense Volley Team, helping the squad win the Danish Cup and the Danish VolleyLigaen.
 
Prior to playing professional volleyball and coaching two club teams in Denmark, Karlik served as a volunteer assistant coach at California State University Fresno in 2012, helping the coaching staff prepare weekly competition rosters and practice logs and assisting in on-court training using the Gold Medal Squared Philosophy.
 
Karlik spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons coaching club volleyball in Colorado, serving as an assistant coach for the NuuSky Volleyball 16 Black team in 2008, and as assistant coach for the Front Range Volleyball Club 16 Blue coach.
 
Karlik's roots in coaching started in 2005 as an assistant coach at Rampart High School.  She made a full circle this past season as Rampart's assistant JV and Varsity coach.
 
A graduate of Rampart High School, Karlik's collegiate career began at Colorado State University where she played the 2003 and 2004 seasons with the Rams, accumulating 524 digs (2.44 digs per set) and 28 aces in 64 matches.  She helped the RMAC win the Mountain West Conference title as a freshman and sophomore, including advancing to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament in 2003.  She spent her final two years playing at the University of Colorado, earning Academic All-Big 12 honors in 2007.  Karlik played in 42 matches for the Buffs in 2007 and 2008, amassing 501 digs and 22 aces.  In 106 career matches, she averaged 2.84 digs per set while digging up 1,025 attacks and serving 50 aces.  Karlik graduate from CU in December 2008 earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.