Karlis Dunens serves as the Head Coach of the Women's Volleyball program at Berea College, taking leadership of the Mountaineers in 2021. In his inaugural season at Berea, he led the team to a 20-12 overall record (12-4 in USA South Athletic Conference play), mentoring USA South Libero of the Year Fabiana De Jesús along with multiple All-Conference honorees.
Dunens arrived at Berea following five seasons as an assistant coach at Elon University (NCAA Division I). During his tenure with the Phoenix, he helped lead the program to its first-ever CAA Conference Tournament appearance in 2017 and a semifinal run in 2019, while developing the program's first AVCA All-American and CAA Player of the Year. His coaching career also includes Division I and Division III stops at the University of Memphis, Southwestern University (where he helped compile a 107-37 record and three NCAA Tournament berths), the University of Houston, and Jacksonville State University, where he contributed to an Ohio Valley Conference Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2009.
A native of Houston, Texas, Dunens began his coaching journey at Texas A&M University as a student manager, volunteer assistant, and club coach. He graduated from Texas A&M in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology.
Karlis resides in Lexington, Kentucky, with his wife, Amanda, and their two children.
