Coach Lynn Ray Boren - USA Deaf Volleyball

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”12″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow_3d” css_animation=”fadeInDown”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn”]Lynn Ray Boren, a three-time Deaflympic Head Coach for the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, has been named the program’s head coach again for the 24th Summer Deaflympics in 2021. Boren will also lead the team at the 2020 World Deaf Volleyball Championships in Chianciano Terme, Italy.

Boren has an excellent international coaching record with the USA Women’s program since 2007. He has guided the United States in a number of international events:

2008 World Volleyball Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina – bronze
2009 21st Deaflympics in Taipei, Taiwan – Silver
2011 Friendship Games in District of Columbia – Gold
2012 World Volleyball Championship in Sofia, Bulgaria – Silver
2013 22nd Deaflympics in Sofia, Bulgaria – 4th place
2016 6th PanAm Volleyball Championship – Gold
2016 World Championship in District of Columbia – Gold
2017 23rd Deaflympics in Samsun, Turkey – Bronze
2019 PanAM Volleyball Regional Qualifier – Gold

Boren entered his 15th season as the head coach of the Gallaudet University volleyball program for the 2019-20 season. In 15 seasons, Boren has accumulated a 339-205 career record with the Bison and led them to eight NCAA tournament appearances and seven straight North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) championships. More information about Coach Boren can be found at the Gallaudet Athletics website.

“I am so grateful to have the opportunity again coaching the US Women’s National team,” Boren said. “I am enthusiastic to be part of this group of amazing players, sharing the same expectations. They step up and make things happen and help us accomplish every mission we set out on in next two years.”

Patrick O’Brien of USA Deaf Volleyball states that Boren’s strong passion for the sport of volleyball, combined with his exceptional background and excellent relationships with athletes make Boren a good fit to lead the national team.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”272″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow_3d” css_animation=”fadeIn”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn”]Born in Irving, Texas and raised with a deaf family with one deaf sibling in Austin, TX and graduated from the Texas School for the Deaf in the year 1989.

Graduated from Gallaudet with a degree in mathematics in 1996. Earned a graduate degree in deaf education from Western Maryland College – now known as McDaniel College – in 1999.

A member of 1993, 1997, and 2001 USA Team Handball team at the Deaflympic and won a bronze medal in 1997 and 2001. Coached the USA handball team who won a silver medal at the 2005 Deaflympics in Australia.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn”]At the 2014 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Convention, Boren received the USA Volleyball Rebecca B. Howard Star Award for his part in positively impacting diversity in the sport of volleyball. Rebecca B. Howard Star Award was initiated by the Diversity Commission to identify and recognize groups and individuals who demonstrate a successful commitment to diversity in volleyball.
Boren led teams earned the AVCA Team Academic Award for 10 years straight years (2007-16) and again (2018-19). He also holds a CAP II certificate from the USAV.
In 2009, Boren coached the Bison to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) South Region championship as the Buff and Blue posted a 27-14 record and finished as runners-up in the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) championship. Three senior players in Shana Lehmann, Justine Jeter and Amanda Krieger earned all-conference honors for the Bison to increase the total to 14 in Boren’s tenure. He has also coached two CAC Players of the Year in Charity Sanders (2005) and Tamijo Foronda (2006).
Boren led Gallaudet to back-to-back CAC championships and NCAA tournament appearances during his first two seasons in 2005 and ’06. The conference championships were later vacated. The 2006 team advanced to the Sweet 16 round as the Bison won their first two NCAA tournament games and finished with a 30-10 record.
Prior to coaching the GU volleyball program, Boren spent 12 years coaching at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf, including nine years as head coach where he won 217 games and four national championships. Boren graduated from Gallaudet with a bachelor’s degree in 1996 and received his master’s degree from McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College) in 1999.
Boren has received two distinctive awards from two of his Alma Maters. He was selected to be inducted into the Texas School for the Deaf Alumni Association Hall of Fame and receive the 2010 Outstanding Young Alumnus Award presented by the Gallaudet University Alumni Association.
Boren was selected to the Texas School for the Deaf Alumni Association’s Hall of Fame for its sports category. He played four sports the Texas School for the Deaf including football, baseball, basketball and tennis and was on three national championship teams between 1988 and 1989. Boren was the 1989 Class Salutatorian before he attended Gallaudet University as a student.
The Outstanding Young Alumnus Award is presented to a Gallaudet alumnus who has graduated from or left the University within the past 15 years. It is awarded by a vote of the GUAA Board to an individual who has performed an impressive service to the University and/or the Deaf Community, or for bringing favorable recognition to the University through some notable achievement.
Boren also has a strong international coaching and playing experience. He was named USA Deaf Women’s Volleyball Head Coach for a fourth time in the summer of 2017. He led Team USA to a silver medal in the 2013 Deaflympics (Sofia, Bulgaria) and 2009 Deaflympics (Taipei, Taiwan) and a bronze medal at the 2017 Deaflympics (Samsun, Turkey). He is also a competitive handball player as he participated in three Deaflympics as a player in 1993, ’97 and 2001 as he won a bronze medal with the last two teams. In 2005, he coached the USA Deaf Handball team to a silver medal in Australia. In 2008, Boren led the 2008 US National Team to a bronze medal in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the Deaf World Volleyball Championships. In August 2012, Boren coached the USA Deaf Volleyball team to a silver medal at the 2nd annual World Deaf Volleyball Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. In 2016, Boren led Team USA to the gold medal at the World Deaf Volleyball Championships hosted by Gallaudet University and won the PanAm championship.
He was also the Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Elite Deaf Girls’ Volleyball Summer Camp, a prestigious volleyball development program that is entering its 17th year.
Boren and his wife Touria Ouahid Boren, a GU Athletics Hall of Fame member, have two sons, Keanu (14) and Denali (13), and reside in Frederick, Md.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]