Ochinero Named Volleyball Head Coach

Doane University is pleased to announce the hiring of RanDee Ochinero as the Head Coach for Tiger Volleyball. Ochinero was selected after a thorough nationwide search and comes to the Tigers from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana. She is the ninth head coach in program history and takes over a Tiger program that ranks in the Top 15 of the NAIA in all-time program wins.

"We are pleased to welcome RanDee Ochinero as our next Head Volleyball Coach," commented Doane Director of Athletics Mark Wateska. "RanDee brings a wealth of experience and will provide the leadership, mentorship, and culture to take our volleyball program to the next level both on and off the court."

Ochinero has served as an assistant coach for the Battlin' Bears of Rocky Mountain since 2021. They qualified for the NAIA National Tournament the past two years and won the Frontier Conference Tournament in 2022 while taking runner-up in 2023.

"I'm excited and extremely grateful to be given the opportunity to be the next Head Volleyball Coach at Doane University." Ochinero said. "The university's dedication to enhancing the student experience, along with the steadfast commitment from its staff, students, and alumni, truly sets Doane apart. I look forward to contributing to this vibrant community and upholding the values that make Doane University special."

Ochinero played collegiately at Laramie County Community College in Wyoming. She stepped away from volleyball following her time at LCCC and went to Western Wyoming Community College where she received an Applied Science in Practical Nursing degree.

With volleyball still in her heart, she turned to a coaching career that started as a camp clinician under former Idaho State University Head Coach and Wyoming High School Coaches Association Hall of Famer Chad Tiechert. In 2016, Ochinero became Head Coach at Eileen Johnson Middle School in Montana. She took over as the Lockwood High School Head Coach in 2018 as the school was being opened in Fall 2019. She coached the Lions for two seasons before joining the staff at Rocky Mountain College. Ochinero has also been involved in club volleyball and founded the Core Volleyball Academy in Billings.

Ochinero's experience with the high-level of play at Rocky Mountain will prove beneficial as she now coaches in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC). The GPAC has placed a team in the NAIA National Championship game in five of the last eight years, dating back to the 2016 season when the Tigers last qualified for the national tournament.

"The GPAC's competitive environment is ideal for fostering high-level play and program growth," commented Ochinero. "My tenure on the staff at Rocky Mountain College, particularly our successful runs into the (NAIA) National Tournament in the last two years, has given me invaluable insights into what it takes to excel at this level. I'm excited to harness the challenging atmosphere of the GPAC to propel us toward building a strong, resilient team capable of competing with the best."

Ochinero and her husband, Mason, have three daughters, Logan, Rylee, and Karson.

Doane is coming off an 8-19 season and 6-10 mark in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), placing eighth.