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Feb. 18—PRESHO, S.D. — With the Lyman High School girls basketball program in need of a head coach last offseason, the Raiders had one name in mind to fill the position.
Cody Volmer.
Implored by a veteran group of Lyman players to return to coaching after one season away, Volmer is back roaming the sidelines this winter in his second stint leading the Raiders. Having previously spent the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons coaching Lyman, Volmer said returning wasn't too difficult of a decision to make.
"I wanted to finish what I started," Volmer said. "I've got an affection for the girls on this team, and I want to stick with them as long as they'll have me. They deserve to have somebody that can help them make a state championship run, and, hopefully, that's what we're doing."
It's safe to say both the players and coach alike are reaping the rewards of Volmer's decision to re-enter the fold.
Lyman currently owns a 17-2 record and sits as one of the top teams in the Class B seed-point standings. But that mark is several years in the making, going back to Volmer's first stint as coach.
The year before Volmer took over as coach, the Raiders were 7-15 but had a young roster on the rise. During 2022-23, Volmer's first season in charge, Lyman posted a 14-8 record, then jumped to 21-4 with a state tournament appearance in Year 2.
Following that season, Volmer's oldest daughter, Skyler, graduated and moved on to play college basketball at the University of North Dakota. In order to more closely follow Skyler's career, Volmer decided to step away from the Lyman sidelines after just two seasons.
In stepped veteran coach Derris Buus, who also guided the Raiders to a 20-5 mark and a repeat state tournament appearance a year ago. Buus then took an administrative position in the Pierre School District after the 2024-25 academic year, as the Lyman coaching job reopened for the second time in as many offseasons.
It didn't take long before the Lyman players asked Volmer, who owns and operates the Presho Livestock Auction, if he would consider a return to coaching.
"Cody is just a very likable guy, and our run two years ago was pretty big," said Lyman senior forward Mak Scott. "I think everyone wanted him back because everyone could trust him."
Volmer said being sought out by the team in that manner was rewarding and fulfilling.
"It means a lot to me that they think of me that way," Volmer said. "I kind of feel like they're my family, so I just want to help them have a level of success that I had as a basketball player."
While Volmer didn't have a background in coaching prior to starting with Lyman four years ago, his playing resume speaks for itself. Volmer was an all-state standout for the Raiders as a prep athlete, and then he played college basketball at South Dakota State.
As such, Volmer's coaching style is largely a collection of elements he's picked up from other coaches on his journey. Further, assistant coach Brooke Scott says Volmer's personality and temperament have a way of getting the most out of the players.
"He'll get after them and coach them hard, and they respect him for it," said Brooke Scott, adding that she was thrilled when she heard Volmer had decided to coach again. "They just take what he says and go and play."
There's still plenty in front of this year's Lyman squad, so Volmer and company are trying to stay focused on the here-and-now. But indications are that Volmer's second stint as the Raiders' coach could be more long-lasting than the first.
Volmer has a seventh-grade daughter, Aspen, who's already on the Raiders' varsity roster, plus two younger daughters, ages 10 and 8, who have yet to enter the program.
"My intention is to stay for a while now," Volmer said. "Unless something major happens, or they tell me they don't want me, I'm probably sticking around."
For those closest to the program, Volmer's continued involvement is a welcome bonus.
"The program is definitely in good hands," Brooke Scott said. "Hopefully, we can start building a girls basketball tradition and culture at Lyman."
Continue reading...
Cody Volmer.
Implored by a veteran group of Lyman players to return to coaching after one season away, Volmer is back roaming the sidelines this winter in his second stint leading the Raiders. Having previously spent the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons coaching Lyman, Volmer said returning wasn't too difficult of a decision to make.
"I wanted to finish what I started," Volmer said. "I've got an affection for the girls on this team, and I want to stick with them as long as they'll have me. They deserve to have somebody that can help them make a state championship run, and, hopefully, that's what we're doing."
It's safe to say both the players and coach alike are reaping the rewards of Volmer's decision to re-enter the fold.
Lyman currently owns a 17-2 record and sits as one of the top teams in the Class B seed-point standings. But that mark is several years in the making, going back to Volmer's first stint as coach.
The year before Volmer took over as coach, the Raiders were 7-15 but had a young roster on the rise. During 2022-23, Volmer's first season in charge, Lyman posted a 14-8 record, then jumped to 21-4 with a state tournament appearance in Year 2.
Following that season, Volmer's oldest daughter, Skyler, graduated and moved on to play college basketball at the University of North Dakota. In order to more closely follow Skyler's career, Volmer decided to step away from the Lyman sidelines after just two seasons.
In stepped veteran coach Derris Buus, who also guided the Raiders to a 20-5 mark and a repeat state tournament appearance a year ago. Buus then took an administrative position in the Pierre School District after the 2024-25 academic year, as the Lyman coaching job reopened for the second time in as many offseasons.
It didn't take long before the Lyman players asked Volmer, who owns and operates the Presho Livestock Auction, if he would consider a return to coaching.
"Cody is just a very likable guy, and our run two years ago was pretty big," said Lyman senior forward Mak Scott. "I think everyone wanted him back because everyone could trust him."
Volmer said being sought out by the team in that manner was rewarding and fulfilling.
"It means a lot to me that they think of me that way," Volmer said. "I kind of feel like they're my family, so I just want to help them have a level of success that I had as a basketball player."
While Volmer didn't have a background in coaching prior to starting with Lyman four years ago, his playing resume speaks for itself. Volmer was an all-state standout for the Raiders as a prep athlete, and then he played college basketball at South Dakota State.
As such, Volmer's coaching style is largely a collection of elements he's picked up from other coaches on his journey. Further, assistant coach Brooke Scott says Volmer's personality and temperament have a way of getting the most out of the players.
"He'll get after them and coach them hard, and they respect him for it," said Brooke Scott, adding that she was thrilled when she heard Volmer had decided to coach again. "They just take what he says and go and play."
There's still plenty in front of this year's Lyman squad, so Volmer and company are trying to stay focused on the here-and-now. But indications are that Volmer's second stint as the Raiders' coach could be more long-lasting than the first.
Volmer has a seventh-grade daughter, Aspen, who's already on the Raiders' varsity roster, plus two younger daughters, ages 10 and 8, who have yet to enter the program.
"My intention is to stay for a while now," Volmer said. "Unless something major happens, or they tell me they don't want me, I'm probably sticking around."
For those closest to the program, Volmer's continued involvement is a welcome bonus.
"The program is definitely in good hands," Brooke Scott said. "Hopefully, we can start building a girls basketball tradition and culture at Lyman."
Continue reading...
