Laura Ulrich became the head coach of the Prairie Stars in August 2025, bringing more than a decade of NCAA Division II volleyball coaching experience to Illinois Springfield.
She most recently served as the head coach at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, where she led the program from 2021 to 2025. During her tenure, the Rattlers made their first-ever Lone Star Conference Tournament appearance and earned four top-10 finishes in one of the strongest conferences in Division II. Ulrich’s leadership also elevated the academic performance of the program, with her teams consistently achieving a GPA above 3.5 and earning five consecutive AVCA All-Academic Team awards.
Under her guidance, St. Mary’s produced 10 All-Conference players, 8 Academic All-District honorees, and multiple All-Tournament and All-Freshman selections. Ulrich was appointed to the NCAA Head Coaches Committee in 2025, further demonstrating her leadership and respect within the national volleyball community.
Prior to her head coaching role, Ulrich served as an assistant coach at Texas Woman’s University, University of Montevallo, and Arkansas Tech University. In each stop, she contributed to competitive and academically strong programs, helping guide multiple student-athletes to All-America and All-Region recognition while supporting team operations, recruiting, and academic success initiatives.
A former NCAA Division II standout herself, Ulrich played at Arkansas Tech University from 2008–2011. Ulrich was an AVCA All-American, three-time All-Region and All-Conference honoree, and became just the fourth player in program history to record both 1,000 digs and 1,000 kills. She was nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year in 2012 and recognized as Arkansas Tech’s Most Outstanding Student-Athlete in 2011.
Ulrich holds a Master of Science in College Student Personnel and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in Spanish, both from Arkansas Tech.
Ulrich now leads a new path for the Prairie Stars with a focus on developing competitive student-athletes, building a strong team culture, and continuing the tradition of academic and athletic excellence at UIS.
Ulrich's Year-by-Year Head Coaching Record
| Year |
School |
Overall |
Conference |
Place |
Postseason |
| 2021-22 |
St.Mary’s (TX) |
14-11 |
8-9 |
10th |
Lone Star Tournament |
| 2022-23 |
St.Mary’s (TX) |
14-14 |
10-6 |
6th |
Lone Star Tournament |
| 2023-24 |
St.Mary’s (TX) |
12-15 |
7-9 |
11th |
|
| 2024-25 |
St.Mary’s (TX) |
17-11 |
9-7 |
6th |
Lone Star Tournament |
| 2025-26 |
UIS |
6-8 |
0-4 |
12th |
|
| UIS |
|
6-8 |
0-4 |
|
|
| Overall |
|
63-59 |
34-35 |
|
|
