By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Steve Dunrud has a passion for volleyball and wants to share his love of the game with a new generation of New York Mills Eagles. That’s what drove him to apply for the open head coach position after spending the previous seven years away from coaching varsity-level volleyball.

“I thought I could add something to the program, or at least I hope,” he said. “(Getting back in the gym) has been a lot of fun.”

Prior to coming to the NY Mills School District, Dunrud had a very successful career coaching volleyball in North Dakota as he served as the Rolla/Rock Lake volleyball coach from 1988-89 and 1991-2007 where he was a district champion two times, district runner up four times and took sixth place in the Class B tournament in 2000-21. He was also named district coach of the year five times and region coach of the year five times. He also served as the Bottineau head volleyball coach from 2012-20, where he was the district champion one time, district runner-up four times and was the district coach of the year twice.  

Dunrud’s career record is 454-341-3 in volleyball. He also served as the Rolla/Rock Lake head football coach from 1984-2000, posting a career record of 116-51. 

He also briefly coached at the junior high level in NY Mills and has spent the past four years as the head track coach as he helped to guide several Eagle tracksters to the section meet. 

Dunrud takes over the top position in the Eagles program from Harley Wurst who guided the team to a 4-24 record in her lone season at the helm. After being officially hired in May, Dunrud said he was excited to get back into the gym and watch the team progress throughout the offseason. 

With seven seniors and seven juniors on the team, along with 14 sophomores, Dunrud will have quite a bit of experience back for the Eagles this season. The one thing that continues to stick out to him throughout the summer months is the passion the team has for volleyball as a whole.

“It’s a fun game and the girls love volleyball,” he said. 

In addition to Dunrud, NY Mills will be coached this season by Jennifer Lohmiller and Alli Bauck.