Laurel Durst will be in her second season as an assistant coach at Emporia State in 2023.

Prior to coming to Emporia State, Durst spent two seasons as the assistant volleyball coach at Independence Community College. During that time she specialized in coaching defensive and serve receive.

Durst spent the 2019-20 season as the Freshman Volleyball Coach at her alma mater, Central High School, in Springfield, MO.

Prior to her time at Central, she was the Head Volleyball Coach at Fordland High School in Fordland, Missouri for 5 seasons (2014-19) where she compiled a record of 82-41. She produced several All-District players as well as a libero who ranked the 5^th highest single match all-time recorded digs in the state of Missouri.

During her time at Fordland, her varsity teams reached the district championship two years in a row (’14-‘15), while also reaching the semi-final rounds the following three years. Durst turned the program around to have its first winning seasons in over a decade. She also served as the Junior High Head Volleyball Coach. Additionally, she coached club volleyball for Apex Volleyball Club out of Springfield, MO for 10 seasons, sending numerous players on to the collegiate level.

Durst played volleyball for Evangel University (Springfield, MO) as a libero, before graduating from Missouri State University (Springfield, MO) in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science Degree, majoring in General Studies. She will also graduate in July 2023 with her Master’s Degree in Sports Management from the University of Kansas.