Imagine VBC: Coaches Bios

Hawkins was a four-year starting outside hitter in volleyball for the Panthers from 1993-96, helping UNI to a 101-18 overall mark over that time span, two Missouri Valley Conference titles, one NIT appearance, and two NCAA berths.

She still holds six school records - for career kill average (4.35), career kill attempts (3,817) and career digs per game (3.46); for single-season kills per game (5.57), and for single-match kill attempts in four games (79) and hitting percentage in three games (.846).

She also ranks in the top 10 in numerous all-time categories, including career kills (1,720, 2nd), career hitting percentage (.292, 9th), career digs (1,368, 2nd), single-season kills (535, 2nd), season kill attempts (1,201, 3rd), season digs per game (3.53, 3rd), singe match kills in three games (24, 2nd), match kills in four games (28, T4th), and single match digs in four games (28, T2nd).

Hawkins holds the school freshman records for kills (358) and digs (349), and the school senior class record for attempts (1,201). She led the team three straight years in kills (1994-96), two consecutive years in digs (1994-95) and was tied for the team lead in 1994 in service aces (38). During her career, she tallied six 20-20 matches, when she reached at least 20 kills and 20 digs in a match, with a high match of 29 and 28, respectively, against Southwest Missouri State, ranking third high all time.

With such lofty numbers, it's not surprising she earned numerous honors and awards throughout her career. She was named the MVC's Freshman of the Year in 1993, was selected to the Arizona State University (1996) and Washington State University (1994) all-tournament teams and was named Most Valuable Player for the Arkansas State Tournament (1996). She was an eight-time MVC Player of the Week honoree. She was a two-time NCAA All-District 5 selection (1995-96), a two-time second team American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Mideast Region pick (1995-96), a three-time MVC first team all-conference choice (1994-96) and a four-time MVC all-tournament honoree. She was a 1997 NCAA Woman of the Year nominee.

She not only received honors athletically, but academically, as well. She received the George Miner Outstanding Freshman of the Year Scholarship (1993), a Life Investors Scholarship (1995), was the Purple & Old Gold Meritorious Scholarship & Honor Graduate Certificate recipient (1995-96), received the Director of Athletics Award five straight years, when she also made the Dean's List; and earned the UNI Presidents' Academic Excellence Award (1996). She was a three-time first team all-academic in the conference, a three-time District 5 Academic All-American (1994-96), and twice was honored as a GTE Academic All-American - first team in 1996 and third team in 1995.

Hawkins received her bachelor's degree in Marketing from UNI in December of 1995 and her MBA Degree in May of 1997. She played professionally in the National Volleyball Association for the Iowa Blizzard in 1997. She was voted into the University of Northern Iowa’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Hall of Fame in 2005.

Professionally, Kate was a marketing analyst for Amana Appliances, Home Appliance Division, in Middle Amana, IA, until 2000. She joined Pearson in Iowa City as a project director, was promoted to senior project director in March of 2003 and is currently a program manager, directing all aspects of administering multiple ACT programs.

The second half of the Galer duo, Kimm was a four-year starting setter for the Panther volleyball team from 1992-95, playing beside sister Kate three years. She helped lead the Panthers to a 98-19 overall record, two Missouri Valley Conference titles, an NIT appearance, and two NCAA berths.

Like her sister, Kimm ranks high in numerous school records. She holds the single season and junior class mark for hitting percentage (.393, 1994). Her name appears in numerous top 10 categories, including career hitting percentage (.302, 6th), career digs per game (2.50, 7th), career assists (10.94, 3rd), single-match hitting percentage for three games (.818, T2nd), and hitting percentage for four games (.692, 2nd). She led the Panthers four consecutive years in assists. She tallied six triple-doubles during her career with a personal-best 10 kills, 12 digs and 54 assists against Drake in 1995.

Kimm also earned many accolades for her athletic prowess. In 1993, she was named to the National Invitational Volleyball Championships All-Tournament Team, was an American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Mideast Region second team selection in 1994, was named to the NCAA All-District 5 team in 1995. She was a four-time MVC All-Tournament Team selection and was named first team all-conference all four years. She was selected twice the conference tournament's Most Valuable Player and was the league's Player of the Year in 1994 and '95.

She also earned various academic honors, including the George Miner Outstanding Freshman of the Year Scholarship (1992), was an Honor Graduate Certificate recipient from the UNI College of Business in 1995 and '96, was a three-time first team all-academic choice in the MVC (1993-95), received the Director of Athletics Award (1992-95), and was named to the Dean's List from 1993-95. Kimm received her bachelor's degree in Marketing from UNI in May of 1996.

Kimm also played professionally upon the completion of her collegiate career, playing for the North County Waves in 1996 (professional grass) and indoors for the Iowa Blizzard in 1997. She in fact built the Iowa Blizzard from scratch, forming the roster and coaching staff, while managing the team advertising and promotion. She was a member of the USA Women's National Volleyball Team from 1997-98, and played for Zeiler Koniz team of the Switzerland National A League from 1998-99. She was voted the Best Setter and an All-Pro Team member in 1997, and was a bronze medalist and a gold medalist in the Switzerland Cup Tournament in 1999.

She was voted into the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Hall of Fame in 2001 and to the University of Northern Iowa’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.

Work experiences have included serving as head graphic designer for Hospers & Brother Printers in Iowa City; independent designer for Imagine Design in Colorado, Switzerland and Iowa; and a designer for National Computer Systems in Iowa City. Since 2000, she has worked for Pearson in Iowa City, first as a project director, then as an electronic solutions specialist, performing research and development of new software and workflow automation solutions for the Forms Support Department. Currently, she is Manager, Design Services of the Publishing Operations Department at Pearson.