Birner Returns to Sidney as New Head Volleyball Coach

MIKE MOTZ

Sidney Sun-Telegraph

SIDNEY--Lately, it seems that Sidney has become a magnet for returning former graduates from Sidney High School coming back to coach for their alma mater. In the Fall, we had Jachob Wiedeburg and Collin Brauer come back to help with the coaching of the Cross Country team, and now the Volleyball Head Coach position has been filled by another for Red Raider, Ryan Birner.

Birner graduated from Sidney High School in 2016. He graduated from University of Nebraska in Lincoln in 2019, after studying secondary social sciences. He competed on the men's club volleyball team, which competed nationwide and placed at the national tournament.

After graduating college, Birner coached volleyball at North Bend Central as an assistant in 2020. In 2021, he took over as Head Coach in Holdrege while teaching 6th grade social studies. He built a winning program over his four-year tenure, and in 2024 Holdrege finished with a 26-and-7 mark, winning the title in the Southwest Conference, and competed in the C1-7 District Final game against Wahoo.

Birner said that he heard rumors that the head coach position at Sidney might become available, so he kept checking, and when the position was posted he was quick to apply for it. He had wanted to coach in Sidney for some time, so he was very grateful for the opportunity to arise. His actual teaching position has not been decided yet, and it looks like that determination will be made in the Spring of 2025. He said that he has taught 6th grade social studies for the last four years, and has his degree in grade 7-12 social studies. He also anticipates having completed his Masters in School Counseling by May of 2025.

Birner said, "The history of success for volleyball at Sidney was a huge source of motivation for wanting to pursue a coaching job here."

He noted that Sidney has a strong volleyball program starting in elementary school and generates a lot of interest with young girls. He said it's important for girls to scrimmage and play informal games at a young age to develop a love for the game.

"It's the desire of all coaches to get to the championship game and I'm no exception. I can't speak as to what will happen in the next few seasons at Sidney, but I do feel that I'm stepping into a situation that is poised for success within a short time frame. At Holdrege, my favorite part of coaching was trying to get teams to reach their full potential no matter the talent level. My assistant coaches and myself did not turn Holdrege Volleyball around overnight, but I feel Sidney can quickly become a player in the state tournament," Birner said.

Birner is eager to get started with his team, and knows he has a solid group of returning players that are coachable and can be very competitive.

"I am lucky to have some players and upcoming talent that have the potential to compete at state," he said.

With Sidney roots, a desire to make the state tournament, and the consistent talent Sidney brings to the court every year, Birner looks poised for success with the Lady Raiders.