Lake Forest College Head Volleyball Coach Katie Rueffer announced Monday that she will be stepping down from her position at the end of the month to pursue other career opportunities.

Rueffer has led the Foresters to an overall record of 57-55 and Midwest Conference mark of 21-12 since she came to the College in 2019.

Lake Forest has been especially successful the last two seasons, winning 13 of 16 conference matches during that span. The Foresters were the league's runner-up in the regular season and postseason tournament in 2022, leading coaches to select Rueffer as MWC Coach of the Year. They also posted a 17-8 overall this fall and their .680 winning percentage was the program's best in two decades.

Players on the team have been named All-MWC seven times with three first team accolades during Rueffer's tenure as head coach. They have also earned 29 Academic All-MWC distinctions during that span, a number that will increase when this year's honorees are announced in July.

In addition to serving as head volleyball coach, Rueffer has been the advisor for the Foresters' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Athletic Council and assisted with basketball game day operations.

"Coach Rueffer has been an extremely valuable member of the department, and while I am sad to see her leave, I wish her nothing but the best in the future," began Lake Forest Director of Athletics Nicki Pieart. "She has elevated our volleyball program significantly during her time at the College and I look forward to its continued success going forward."

"I am so incredibly grateful that I have the opportunity to lead the volleyball program at Lake Forest College the past five years," stated Rueffer. "It has been such a joy to positively impact not only the student-athletes I have coached, but others at the college through SAAC and Athletic Council and beyond. I am certainly going to miss Lake Forest, but I am excited for this next chapter in my life as I relocate and pursue other opportunities outside of collegiate coaching. The Foresters will always hold a special place in my heart."

A national search for the program's next head coach will begin immediately.