DRAGON ATHLETICS
Staff
Tammy Blake-Kath, Compliance Coordinator / Athletic Department Chair / Head Coach
The only coach to lead the Dragons to the NCAA Division II post-season promised land, TAMMY BLAKE-KATH launches her 13th season as head volleyball coach at Minnesota State University Moorhead this fall.
Under Blake-Kath’s watch MSU Moorhead advanced to the NCAA II Regionals in 2000, 2004 and 2005. She’s forged a 214-165 record in 12 seasons at MSUM that includes one Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championship, three runnerup finishes and three trips to post-season play.
The centerpiece was the magical 28-4 run in 2000 that included a school record 17-match win streak, the return of the NSIC title to MSU Moorhead and a first ever appearance at the NCAA Division II North Central Regional Championships. It earned Blake-Kath Regional Coach of the Year honors.
It was a marvelous milestone, indeed, but responding to a serious challenge is nothing new for Blake-Kath. She surely faced long odds when she joined the Dragon staff in 1995. The new coach was expected to extend a rich legacy of success that included 10 consecutive winning seasons, despite the upgrade from the NAIA to the powerful NCAA Division II. No matter. Blake-Kath and the rebuilt Dragons placed second in the NSIC, the first of three straight league runnerup finishes for Blake-Kath.
Blake-Kath was appointed the fifth head volleyball coach in Dragon history in 1995 replacing Becky Schulze. She joined MSUM after four years as head coach at Vermillion High School in Vermillion, SD. Her 1992-93 club finished 11th on the final South Dakota High School poll.
In addition to her volleyball coaching duties at Minnesota State Moorhead, Blake-Kath also serves as Compliance Coordinator.
A 1989 graduate of the University of South Dakota, Blake-Kath was installed as the Coyotes’ starting setter midway through her freshman year. A four-time letterwinner, she led the North Central Conference in serve aces as a junior and was elected captain as a senior. Blake-Kath also started for four years for the softball Coyotes.
Blake-Kath graduated from USD with a major in Physical Education/Health. Following her career at South Dakota, she spent two seasons at South Dakota State University as a graduate assistant coach in volleyball and softball and earned a Master’s Degree.
A native of Sgt. Bluff, IA, Blake-Kath graduated from Sgt. Bluff-Luton High School in 1984. A four-sport letterwinner, she was a three-year starter in volleyball at outside hitter. A two-time Iowa All-State and a three-time All-War Eagle Conference pick, Blake-Kath was voted Most Valuable Player as a junior and senior.
An honorable mention Iowa 1A All-State selection, Blake-Kath departed as the Warriors' all-time basketball scoring leader with 1802 points. A three-time all-league basketball and softball selection, she earned Most Valuable Player honors in both basketball (three times) and softball (twice). A starting pitcher in softball, Blake-Kath was a two-time all-state softball honoree as well.
