Former Festus High principal and longtime coach Karen Biehle is coming out of retirement to take the reins again as head coach of the Tiger volleyball program.
The Festus R-VI Board of Education approved the hiring of Biehle at its March meeting. She will succeed Ann Gettinger, who resigned after serving as head coach the past three seasons.
Biehle, 65, a 1967 Festus graduate, previously served as Tiger head coach over a long career that produced 552 wins, 22 conference championships, 12 state tournament appearances and three trips to the state final four. Her 1994 team finished second in Class 3A. She also coached the Festus girls basketball team to 400 wins, nine league titles, four district championships and one final four appearance.
Biehle retired from coaching in 2004 but came back to serve as principal of the high school from 2006 through 2013. She was inducted into the school district’s hall of fame in 2015.
“I’m excited about getting the opportunity to coach the Tigers again,” Biehle said. “Festus is where my heart is; there isn’t anywhere else I would want to coach. I’m looking forward to wearing black and gold on the sidelines once again.”