| The Kelly Sheffield File |
| Coaching Experience |
| 2013- Present | Wisconsin | Head Coach |
| 2008-12 | Dayton | Head Coach |
| 2001-07 | Albany | Head Coach |
| 2000 | Clemson | Assistant Coach |
| 1998-99 | Virginia | Assistant Coach |
| 1997 | Houston | Assistant Coach |
| Coaching Awards |
| · 2023 AVCA Northeast Region Co-Coach of the Year |
| · 2022 AVCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year |
| · 2022 Big Ten Coach of the Year |
| · 2019 AVCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year |
| · 2019 Big Ten Coach of the Year |
| · 2016 AVCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year |
| · 2014 AVCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year |
| · 2014 Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year |
| · 2013 Volleyball Magazine National Coach of the Year |
| · 2012 AVCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year |
| · 2012 Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year |
| · 2011 Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year |
| · 2010 AVCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year |
| · 2010 Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year |
| · 2006 America East Conference Coach of the Year |
| · 2004 America East Conference Coach of the Year |
| Conference Championships |
| · 2014, '19, '20, '21, '22 Big Ten |
| · 2009, '10, '11, '12 Atlantic 10 Regular Season |
| · 2009, '10, '11, '12 Atlantic 10 Tournament |
| · 2004, '05, '06 America East Regular Season |
| · 2004, '06, '07 America East Tournament |
| AVCA National Player of the Year |
| · Sarah Franklin (Wisconsin) - 2023 |
| · Dana Rettke (Wisconsin) - 2021 |
| All-Americans |
| · Charlie Fuerbringer (Wisconsin) - 2024 Third Team |
| · Carter Booth (Wisconsin) - 2023 Second Team |
| · Anna Smrek (Wisconsin) - 2023 Second Team |
| · Danielle Hart (Wisconsin) - 2022 Third Team |
| · Sarah Franklin (Wisconsin) - 2024, 23 First Team; 2022 Third Team |
| · Dana Rettke (Wisconsin) - 2017, '18, '19, '20, '21 First Team |
| · Sydney Hilley (Wisconsin) - 2019, '20, '21 First Team; 2018 Second Team; 2017 Honorable Mention |
| · Devyn Robinson (Wisconsin) - 2023 Honorable Mention; 2020, '22 Third Team |
| · Lauren Barnes (Wisconsin) - 2020, '21 Second Team |
| · Grace Loberg (Wisconsin) - 2019 and '20 Honorable Mention |
| · Molly Haggerty (Wisconsin) - 2019 Second Team; 2016 Third Team; 2020 Honorable Mention |
| · Madison Duello (Wisconsin) - 2018 Third Team |
| · Tiffany Clark (Wisconsin) - 2018 Honorable Mention |
| · Lauren Carlini (Wisconsin) - 2014, 2015 and 2016 First Team; 2013 Second Team |
| · Haleigh Nelson (Wisconsin) - 2015 and 2016 Second Team; 2014 Honorable Mention |
| · Tionna Williams (Wisconsin) - 2016 Third Team; 2015 and 2017 Honorable Mention |
| · Taylor Morey (Wisconsin) - 2014 Second Team; 2015 Honorable Mention |
| · Courtney Thomas (Wisconsin) - 2014 Second Team |
| · Dominique Thompson (Wisconsin) - 2014 Honorable Mention |
| · Ellen Chapman (Wisconsin) - 2013 Honorable Mention |
| · Blair Buchanan (Albany) - 2004, '05 Honorable Mention |
| · Megan Campbell (Dayton) - 2012 Honorable Mention; 2011 Third Team |
| · Lindsay Fletemier (Dayton) - 2010 Second Team; 2009 Third Team; 2008 Honorable Mention |
| · Rachel Krabacher (Dayton) - 2012 and 2011 Honorable Mention |
| · Samantha Selsky (Dayton) - 2012 Second Team; 2011 Honorable Mention |
| · Jessica Yanz (Dayton) - 2010 Honorable Mention |
| AVCA National Freshman of the Year |
| · Dana Rettke (Wisconsin) - 2017 |
| Conference Players of the Year |
| · Sarah Franklin (Wisconsin) - 2024, 2023 |
| · Dana Rettke (Wisconsin) - 2019 |
| · Lauren Carlini (Wisconsin) - 2015 |
| · Rachel Krabacher (Dayton) - 2012 and 2011 |
| · Lindsay Fletemier (Dayton) - 2010 and 2009 |
| · Blair Buchanan (Albany) - 2006, 2005 and 2004 |
| Conference Setters of the Year |
| · Sydney Hilley (Wisconsin) - 2019, 2020 and 2021 |
| · Lauren Carlini (Wisconsin) - 2015 and 2014 |
| · Samantha Selsky (Dayton) - 2012 and 2011 |
| · Jessica Yanz (Dayton) - 2010 |
| · Blair Buchanan (Albany) - 2006, 2005 and 2004 |
| Conference Freshman of the Year |
| · Julia Orzol (Wisconsin) - 2021 |
| · Dana Rettke (Wisconsin) - 2017 |
| · Molly Haggerty (Wisconsin) - 2016 |
| · Lauren Carlini (Wisconsin) - 2013 |
| Conference Defensive Player of the Year |
| · Taylor Morey (Wisconsin) - 2014 |
| · Ashley DeNeal (Albany) - 2004 |
In 12 years at Wisconsin, Kelly Sheffield has put the Badger volleyball program among the nation's elite.
- 2021 NCAA Championship
- 2013, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023 NCAA Final Fours
- 12-straight NCAA Sweet 16-or-better tournament finishes
- 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 Big Ten Champions
- Ended the last 12Â seasons ranked in the top 12 nationally
- 44Â All-America honors
- 48Â All-Big Ten honors
- 31 All-Big Ten First TEam
- Ranked second nationally in attendance in 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023
- Two Olympians (Lauren Carlini, Dana Rettke)
- Two AVCA National Players of the Year (Sarah Franklin, 2023; Dana Rettke, 2021)
"The goal is to compete for Big Ten championships as it should be at Wisconsin. If you are competing for Big Ten championships, that puts you in the top echelon of teams in the country, and that's where we want to be. But there's also a clear understanding that you have to immerse yourself in the process of getting better--that's where the daily focus has to be."
NCAA SUCCESS
Under Sheffield, Wisconsin has won on the NCAA level unrivaled by any other team. The Badgers are one of only three teams to compete in the Sweet 16 the last 12Â years in a row, including four final four appearance
The Badgers won the 2021 NCAA Championship, the first in program history. UW also finished as the NCAA runner-up in 2019 and 2013 while advancing to the final four in 2020 and 2023. Wisconsin qualified for the Elite Eight in 2024, 2022, 2018, 2016 and 2014 and the Sweet 16 in 2017 and 2015.
Wisconsin is 42-11 in the last 12 years of NCAA play.
ALL-AMERICAN HONORS
Over the last 12Â seasons, 20 Badger athletes have earned 45Â All-Americans, including 13 first-team honorees. That total ties for the fifth-most in nation. Dana Rettke wrapped up her career as the only five-time first-team All-American in AVCA history. Sarah Franklin, Sydney Hilley, and Lauren Carlini were also three-time first-team All-Americans. In addition, Sarah Franklin and Rettke were also named the AVCA National Player of the Year in 2023 and 2021.
BIG TEN CHAMPIONS
Wisconsin has won five Big Ten Conference championships under Sheffield -- 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2014. UW is only the second Big Ten school to win four-straight titles.
Sheffield is third among all Big Ten coaches for most championships won.
WINNING WAYS
Wisconsin wins on a level unrivaled by few programs, as evidenced by the Badgers’ win total and winning percentage over the last 12 years under head coach Kelly Sheffield. At Wisconsin, Sheffield has amassed a 318-68 (.822) record, while overall in his 24 year career, Sheffield is 591-180 (.767) which ranks 22nd nationally.
The Badgers have won at least 22 matches in each of the last 12 seasons (except 2020-21), sharing that feat with seven other schools—BYU, Creighton, Florida, Marquette, Nebraska, Texas, and Washington.
DRAWING THE FANS
Wisconsin has ranked among the top-five teams in the nation for attendance for 24Â straight seasons (excluding 2020). UW has also ranked in the top 10 for attendance for 34 straight years.
In 2021, the Badgers drew a school-record 142,571 fans while in 2023, the Badgers drew an NCAA indoor record at Fiserv Forum with 17,037 fans in attendance.
In 2022, the Badgers hosted Florida and at the time, set an NCAA indoor attendance record of 16,833 fans for its first Kohl Center Classic match. Two years later, in 2024, Wisconsin held a total of 15,084 fans at the Kohl Center against in-state rival Marquette.Â
TAKING OVER BADGER PROGRAM
Sheffield became the 10th head volleyball coach in Wisconsin history in December 2012 after five years as head coach at the University of Dayton.
After taking over the Dayton program in 2008, Sheffield molded the Flyers into one of the nation’s elite programs. Dayton won four straight Atlantic 10 Conference championships and made five straight NCAA tournament appearances. The Flyers won the 2012 A10 title with a perfect 14-0 mark for the first time in program history, claimed the conference tournament title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Dayton ended the season ranked 19th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) top-25 poll after being ranked all season long.
Sheffield was named the 2012 AVCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year as well as the A10 Coach of the Year. He coached the last four conference players of the year in Rachel Krabacher (2011 and 2012) and Lindsay Fletemier (2009 and 2010) as well as the last three setters of the year in Samantha Selsky (2011 and 2012) and Jessica Yanz (2010).
He also coached six athletes who have earned 12 All-America honors, including 2012 second-team honoree Selsky, and 32 first-team all-conference award winners. He also had two athletes named to the USA Volleyball A2 team while three athletes have played professionally.
Sheffield was 131-33 (.799) in five years at Dayton, including a 68-4 (.944) mark in Atlantic 10 play.
ACADEMICS IMPORTANT PART OF CAREER
Academics are equally important to Sheffield as two Badgers have earned six Academic All-America honors. Sydney Hilley is a three-time first-team honoree, Julia Orzol is a two-time honoree earning third-team in 2023, and second-team in 2024, while Lauren Carlini was a third-team honoree in 2016.
The Badgers have earned the AVCA’s Team Academic Award, presented to teams maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average, three seasons while his Dayton teams earned the honor four times.
Over the last eight years, nine-or-more Badgers have earned Academic All-Big Ten, including a record 12 in 2018 and 2019.
At Dayton, Sheffield had seven Academic All-Atlantic 10 honorees as the conference office selected just seven recipients every year.
OFF-THE-COURT INVOLVEMENT
Sheffield served on the AVCA’s Board of Directors as the chair of the awards and Division I All-America committee. He also communicated relative rules and regulation for the association’s awards and reviews proposals for new awards programs.
Sheffield was one of nine members of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Rules Committee from 2004-07, and was chair of the committee in 2006-07. While at the University of Albany, he also represented the America East Conference on the Division I Head Coaches’ Committee.
HEAD COACHING CAREER BEGAN AT ALBANY
A native of Muncie, Indiana, Sheffield served as the head coach at Albany from 2001-07. A two-time America East Coach of the Year, Sheffield led the Great Danes to three trips to the NCAA Tournament including a second-round appearance in 2007. Albany also won back-to-back conference tournament titles under Sheffield.
Sheffield mentored the first player in NCAA history to win a conference player of the year and setter of the year award for three consecutive seasons in Blair Buchanon. That talent helped his 2006 squad to become the first team in school history in any sport to host an NCAA tournament contest.
Sheffield’s first team at Albany was just 4-20 while he finished with a seven-year record of 142-79 (.643), including four 20-win seasons.
COACHING START
Sheffield spent one season as the top assistant at Clemson University and from 1998-2000, Sheffield was a first assistant coach at the University of Virginia, aiding the Cavaliers to their first two appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Prior to Virginia, Sheffield served as an assistant at the University of Houston in 1997 when the Cougars captured their seventh consecutive NCAA berth and won the Conference USA Tournament.
He also has extensive experience coaching junior volleyball teams, serving as the head coach of the Houston Juniors from 1997-98 and Munciana (Ind.) Volleyball Club from 1989-97. Sheffield began his coaching career at Muncie Burris High School where he was a varsity assistant for a squad that won two state championships and a national championship.
Sheffield earned his bachelor’s degree in general studies from Ball State University in 2001 after taking several years off to coach. He has also worked as an evaluator and court coach for USA Volleyball Junior National Team Tryouts.
Sheffield and his wife Cathy are the parents of two daughters—Lexi (14) and Reagan (11). Cathy (Arnette) lettered for two seasons each at Villanova and Virginia as a setter and defensive specialist.
The Sheffield family - Kelly, Lexi (holding Ziggy), Cathy and Reagan
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| Sheffield's Coaching Record |
| Season |
School |
Record |
Conference |
Finish (Record) |
Postseason |
| 2024 |
Wisconsin |
26-7 |
Big Ten |
3rd (17-3) |
NCAA Elite Eight (3-1) |
| 2023 |
Wisconsin |
30-4 |
Big Ten |
2nd (17-3) |
NCAA Final Four (4-1) |
| 2022 |
Wisconsin |
28-4 |
Big Ten |
1st (19-1) |
NCAA Elite Eight (3-1) |
| 2021 |
Wisconsin |
31-3 |
Big Ten |
1st (17-3) |
NCAA Champions (6-0) |
| 2020 |
Wisconsin |
16-1 * |
Big Ten |
1st (13-0) * Â Â |
NCAA Final Four (3-1) |
| 2019 |
Wisconsin |
27-7 |
Big Ten |
1st (18-2) |
NCAA Runner-up (5-1) |
| 2018 |
Wisconsin |
25-7 |
Big Ten |
T3rd (15-5) |
NCAA Elite Eight (3-1) |
| 2017 |
 Wisconsin |
 22-10 |
 Big Ten |
T7th (11-9) |
 NCAA Sweet 16 (2-1) |
| 2016 |
 Wisconsin |
 28-5 |
 Big Ten |
 T2nd (17-3) |
 NCAA Elite Eight (3-1) |
| 2015 |
 Wisconsin |
 26-7 |
 Big Ten |
 3rd (16-4) |
 NCAA Sweet 16 (2-1) |
| 2014 |
 Wisconsin |
 31-3 |
 Big Ten |
 1st (19-1) |
 NCAA Elite Eight (3-1) |
| 2013 |
 Wisconsin |
 28-10 |
 Big Ten |
 T4th (12-8) |
 NCAA Runner-up (5-1) |
|
 12 years |
318 -68Â (.822) |
|
 174-39 (.817) |
 42-11 (.792) |
| 2012 |
 Dayton |
 27-5 |
 Atlantic 10 |
 1st (14-0) |
 NCAA Second Round (1-1 |
| 2011 |
 Dayton |
 25-7 |
 Atlantic 10 |
 1st (14-1) |
 NCAA First Round (0-1) |
| 2010 |
 Dayton |
 28-4 |
 Atlantic 10 |
 1st (15-0) |
 NCAA Second Round (1-1) |
| 2009 |
 Dayton |
 30-4 |
 Atlantic 10 |
 1st (14-1) |
 NCAA Second Round (1-1) |
| 2008 |
 Dayton |
 21-13 |
 Atlantic 10 |
 2nd (11-2) |
 NCAA First Round (0-1) |
|
 5 years |
 131-33 (.799) |
|
 68-4 (.944) |
 3-5 (.400) |
| 2007 |
 Albany |
 24-10 |
 America East |
 2nd (9-4) |
 NCAA Second Round (1-1) |
| 2006 |
 Albany |
 19-13 |
 America East |
 1st (10-2) |
 NCAA First Round (0-1) |
| 2005 |
 Albany |
 28-4 |
 America East |
 1st (11-1) |
|
| 2004 |
 Albany |
 27-7 |
 America East |
 1st (13-1) |
 NCAA First Round (0-1) |
| 2003 |
 Albany |
 24-10 |
 America East |
 4th (9-5) |
|
| 2002 |
Albany |
16-15 |
America East |
 4th (5-7) |
|
| 2001 |
Albany |
4-20 |
America East |
 8th (1-13) |
|
|
7 years |
142-79 (.643) |
|
 58-33 (.637) |
1-3 (.333) |
| Totals (24 years) |
591-180 (.765) |
|
 46-19 (.707) |
| * Does not include two wins from forfeit that are recognized by the Big Ten but are considered no contest by the NCAA |
