Grizzly Volleyball News
Kelly one of AVCA's 30 Under 30
by: Joel Carlson of UM Sports Information
Friday, 2/12/2010
University of Montana assistant volleyball coach Kandice Kelly was recently named by the American Volleyball Coaches Association to its “30 Under 30” list. The annual award was created a year ago by the AVCA to recognize 30 of the up-and-coming volleyball coaches under the age of 30 at all levels of the game.
Of this year’s recipients, 19 are assistant coaches and 11 are head coaches. Kelly is one of only eight from the NCAA Division I ranks.
In three seasons as an assistant on coach Jerry Wagner’s staff, Kelly has helped guide the Grizzlies to a pair of top-four finishes in the Big Sky Conference and two appearances in the Big Sky Conference tournament.
A former libero, Kelly coached junior Brittney Brown to last fall’s Big Sky Conference Libero of the Year award.
“Being a volleyball coach and a coach in general, you don’t do it because you want recognition,” Kelly said. “You do it because you love the game, you love the kids and you love your job. So getting an award for doing something you love is just a cherry on top of the sundae.”
Kelly joined Wagner’s staff in 2007, just a year removed from her own collegiate playing career.
“This is an outstanding honor and one that is well-deserved for an up-and-coming young coach,” Wagner said. “Although Kandice is a young coach, she’s very mature when it comes to what needs to take place in the gym and how to work with the staff in developing the expectations we want to establish for the team.
“Kandice is a very strong presence in all aspects of what we do as a coaching staff. That has enabled me to give both Kandice and (assistant coach) Gina (Schmidt) duties that I know will be carried out at the highest level.”