Pauly to lead Kennedy volleyball

Briar Cliff Hall of Famer was a multi-sport standout at Willmar High School

Kennedy volleyball didn’t need to look far for its next head coach as Kelsey Pauly was promoted to lead the squad after four seasons as an assistant coach.

Pauly was a varsity assistant in 2022 and 2023 after leading the junior varsity team in 2021. She is excited for the opportunity to make her mark on the Eagles program.

“Sports have been such a large part of my life and my development over the years. I have learned how to play different roles and translate the things I have learned in sports to my everyday life,” she said. “I know Kennedy has gone through a few coaches over the last several years with the pandemic and other factors causing turnover but I want to bring a consistent element to the program.”

Pauly was a standout basketball and volleyball player at Willmar High School (2009) in addition to playing Junior Olympic volleyball.

“I played volleyball under coach Mary Hansen in Willmar,” Pauly said. “I always appreciated her dedication and commitment to us athletes and would love to mimic that in the Kennedy community.”

She added that her basketball coaches at Willmar and Briar Cliff, Brad Atchison and Mike Power, respectively, were also influential.

“The belief they had in me on the court was always felt and allowed me to be a successful athlete both in high school and college,” she said. “I was a kid that came from a not-so-glamorous background and they gave me a chance. They helped facilitate an environment I could thrive in which opened many doors for my life. I hope I can do even a little bit of that for the girls in the Kennedy program.”

Hall of Famer

She went on to a highly successful collegiate basketball career at Briar Cliff University (2009-13) where she earned NAIA All-American honors and was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame in February. She ranks second in career blocks (123), 17th in career points (1,345) and fifth in blocks in a season (43) while being a part of four trips to the NAIA National tournament compiling a 99-41 record. As a senior, the Chargers began the season with 10 consecutive wins as the team went 25-10. She led the team with 492 points and 43 blocks and was third in rebounds (157).

Former Briar Cliff women’s basketball coach Mike Power said, “Her induction into the hall of fame is a testament to her remarkable talent, unwavering dedication and exemplary character. Kelsey deserves to have her name in the hall of fame because she was another great player that helped leave her mark on the program.”

Pauly said it was a tremendous honor and a “wonderful ceremony to be inducted.”

Finding Kennedy

She first found Kennedy volleyball after searching for a way to give back to the community in 2021 and responding to a Facebook ad looking for coaches. “I was unsure what that involvement would look like but I knew a natural place for me to start with was in the gym,” she said, as Kennedy is a short drive from her home. “I thought why not give it a try for a year and reevaluate once the season concludes.”

She works a less flexible schedule in corporate America but, “it happened at the right time and place so I took the B squad coaching position for my first year.”

Reflecting on her time back in the gym, it was a resounding success.

“When I say I loved it, that doesn’t even begin to capture how much joy being back in the gym has brought me,” she said. “The thought of practices, games and bonding with the girls consumes my brain every fall now.”

Kennedy went 9-16 overall in 2023 including a 6-3 conference record to place third in the Tri-Metro before losing the Section 6AAAA opener against Minneapolis Southwest 3-0.

When previous coach Danya Dent stepped down after last season, Pauly knew she had a decision to make.

“If a new head coach came in there could be the outcome of no longer coaching at Kennedy if the new coach chose to go in a different route with their staff. I didn’t want to take my chance of not being a part of the program, so I thought ‘Why not run it myself?’ I was not looking to be a head coach but I was also not ready to say goodbye,” she said. “I see so much potential in these girls and this program. I am so excited to put my spin on the program.”

She continues to play in multiple volleyball leagues throughout the area and previously coached AAU basketball focusing on girls ages 10-18. She coached for Hoopla out of Sioux City, Iowa while she was in college.

Pauly stepped back from coaching basketball while her younger brothers play college basketball at Emporia State (Kansas) and Colorado State. “And we like to travel to their games as much as possible because those periods are so short-lived,” Pauly said.

Follow Jason Olson on Twitter @Jason0lson or @SunSportsJason.