Hawley Volleyball Head Coach Rustad picked to lead UMN Crookston

Won back-to-back state titles with the Nuggets

HAWLEY, MN (KVRR) – One of the best coaches in Hawley volleyball history is heading to the college ranks. Minnesota Crookston announced that Kathleen Rustad will be their next head coach.

Rustad led the Hawley Nuggets to back-to-back Minnesota Class AA state volleyball championships. In six seasons with the Nuggets, she had a record of 136-35.

“We are thrilled to announce Kathleen as our next volleyball coach,” said director of athletics Stephanie Helgeson. “Kathleen brings a winning pedigree to the program and has won wherever she has been. She has great energy and enthusiasm and an understanding of volleyball and is knowledgeable of the region and state of Minnesota and we can’t wait for her to get started.”

Rustad takes over a Crookston program that went 0-20 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, failing to win a set in the final nine games of the 2025 season.