Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner found themselves sharing the sidelines again this week, more than two years after their divorce, as they reunited to support their son at a volleyball game in Santa Barbara.
The former couple kept their distance during the outing, making the family appearance an awkward reminder of the turbulent years that followed the end of their 18-year marriage.
The reunion also comes as Kevin Costner’s love life is attracting fresh attention after he was spotted getting cozy with a younger lifestyle coach.
As seen in photos obtained by the Daily Mail, Costner, 71, and Baumgartner, 52, attended their son’s beach volleyball game in Santa Barbara, with the former spouses appearing to keep their distance while watching the teenager play.
The meeting was significant because it put the former couple in the same public setting after their marriage ended in a contentious legal battle.
Yet the reason for their reunion was straightforward: their children remain a shared priority.
Costner and Baumgartner have three children together, Cayden, Hayes, and Grace. Hayes, in particular, has a long-standing connection to volleyball.
For the event, the Oscar award winner kept it simple in a white T-shirt and pants, along with flip-flops.
People Magazine previously reported that Costner regularly drove his younger children to school and volleyball practices, describing himself as an “Uber guy” who spent much of his time getting them where they needed to go.
The actor has also spoken about the importance of staying involved in his children’s lives, even while balancing a demanding Hollywood career.
See images from Kevin Costner’s reunion with his ex-wife here.
The Actor’s Divorce Became A Major Legal Battle Over Child Support
Costner and Baumgartner’s marriage ended after nearly two decades. Baumgartner filed for divorce in May 2023, citing “irreconcilable differences,” and the split quickly became one of the most closely watched celebrity divorce cases of the year.
The former couple fought over their family home, child support, and the terms of their prenuptial agreement before reaching a settlement in September 2023.
Their divorce was officially finalized in February 2024, with a court granting them joint custody of their three children.
The legal dispute also brought unusually personal details into public view.
Baumgartner argued for substantial monthly child support, while Costner’s lawyers challenged some of her requests. The proceedings eventually ended without a trial, but the public nature of the battle left a complicated backdrop to their co-parenting relationship.
Their latest volleyball reunion shows that, whatever tension remains between the former spouses, family occasions still bring them into the same space.
Christine Baumgartner Has Since Married Kevin Costner’s Former Friend
The story became more complicated after Baumgartner moved on with Josh Connor, a financier who had been a friend of Costner’s.
The pair were romantically linked after her divorce filing and married in October 2025 in Santa Barbara.
Their relationship attracted attention because Connor had been part of Costner and Baumgartner’s wider social circle.
Baumgartner had previously described Connor as a friend during the divorce proceedings, while later reports confirmed their relationship had become romantic.
According to E! News, Baumgartner and Connor married at Santa Ynez Ranch in front of about 100 guests, with their children present. Costner did not publicly comment on the marriage.
The Actor’s Love Life Has Also Faced Scrutiny
While Baumgartner has settled into married life with Connor, Costner’s own romantic life has remained a source of speculation.
He was linked to singer Jewel, although Costner later pushed back on the idea that they had dated, saying they were friends.
He was also reported to have had a private, casual relationship with Kelley Noonan Gores, with sources describing a cautious romance following his highly publicized divorce.
Now Costner has sparked fresh romance rumors after being photographed in Santa Barbara with lifestyle coach Jennifer Milburn, 40.
Page Six reported that the pair appeared “extremely affectionate” during an outing and identified Milburn as a lifestyle coach from Aspen, Colorado.
Neither Costner nor Milburn has publicly confirmed a relationship. The attention surrounding his personal life has nevertheless arrived at the same time as his public reunion with Baumgartner at their son’s volleyball game.
Kevin Costner And Christine Baumgartner’s Children Remain The Common Ground
For all the speculation surrounding Costner and Baumgartner’s personal lives, their children remain the clearest reason the former couple will continue crossing paths.
Costner has described his family as the “anchor” of his life.
In a 2024 People Magazine interview, he explained that much of his routine involved driving his younger children between school, sports and social activities.
His son Hayes has also shared a creative connection with his father, appearing in Costner’s film “Horizon: An American Saga,” while pursuing sports including volleyball.
The latest Santa Barbara reunion therefore appears less about the former couple’s complicated history and more about showing up for their son.
Still, seeing Costner and Baumgartner together again inevitably brings their difficult divorce, her marriage to his former friend, and Costner’s latest dating rumors back into the spotlight.
