University of North Texas Athletics
Women's Volleyball
Kennedy Shelstead
- Title:
- Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
- Email:
- Kennedy.Shelstead@unt.edu
Kennedy Shelstead is entering her second season as UNT volleyball’s assistant coach and recruiting coordinator after joining the staff in March 2025.
Shelstead enjoyed a successful debut season in Denton as the Mean Green compiled a 21-8 overall record and reached 20 wins for the first time since 2017. That marked an 11-win improvement from the year prior and the program’s third best winning percentage (.700) ever. The Mean Green also went 11-5 during American Conference play and finished fourth in the regular season standings despite being voted 11th in the preseason coaches’ poll.
With Shelstead’s assistance, middle blocker Loredana Fouonji and setter Alexa Washington both completed fantastic seasons that earned Fouonji Second Team All-Conference honors and saw Washington finish as one of nine NCAA players with 100+ kills, 600+ assists and 300+ digs.
Shelstead joined North Texas after one season at Pittsburg State where she worked under head coach Jen Gomez. During that span, she coached one all-conference performer and nine members of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.
Prior to her time at Pittsburg State, Shelstead spent four seasons at Arkansas Tech with two years as a graduate assistant (2020-21) and two as an assistant coach (2022-23) under Kera Dukic. In 2021, the Golden Suns won the Great American Conference tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament for the sixth time in program history.
Shelstead began coaching after her four-year playing career, which included two seasons at John Brown University (2015-16) before transferring to Abilene Christian (2017-19). She competed in both indoor and beach throughout her career, earning honorable mention all-league recognition as a sophomore at John Brown and a spot on the 2020 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll while at ACU. In total, Shelstead finished her indoor career with 317 sets played, 608 kills and 292 blocks over four seasons.
A native of Keller, Texas, Shelstead was a three-year letter winner during her prep career and graduated from Melissa High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sports and recreation management from ACU in December 2019 and a master’s degree in student affairs administration from Arkansas Tech in May 2022.
COACHING HISTORY
2025-Present: UNT, Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
2024-25: Pittsburg State, Assistant Coach
2022-23: Arkansas Tech, Assistant Coach
2021-22: Arkansas Tech, Graduate Assistant
PLAYING HISTORY
2017-19: Abilene Christian
2015-16: John Brown
Shelstead enjoyed a successful debut season in Denton as the Mean Green compiled a 21-8 overall record and reached 20 wins for the first time since 2017. That marked an 11-win improvement from the year prior and the program’s third best winning percentage (.700) ever. The Mean Green also went 11-5 during American Conference play and finished fourth in the regular season standings despite being voted 11th in the preseason coaches’ poll.
With Shelstead’s assistance, middle blocker Loredana Fouonji and setter Alexa Washington both completed fantastic seasons that earned Fouonji Second Team All-Conference honors and saw Washington finish as one of nine NCAA players with 100+ kills, 600+ assists and 300+ digs.
Shelstead joined North Texas after one season at Pittsburg State where she worked under head coach Jen Gomez. During that span, she coached one all-conference performer and nine members of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.
Prior to her time at Pittsburg State, Shelstead spent four seasons at Arkansas Tech with two years as a graduate assistant (2020-21) and two as an assistant coach (2022-23) under Kera Dukic. In 2021, the Golden Suns won the Great American Conference tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament for the sixth time in program history.
Shelstead began coaching after her four-year playing career, which included two seasons at John Brown University (2015-16) before transferring to Abilene Christian (2017-19). She competed in both indoor and beach throughout her career, earning honorable mention all-league recognition as a sophomore at John Brown and a spot on the 2020 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll while at ACU. In total, Shelstead finished her indoor career with 317 sets played, 608 kills and 292 blocks over four seasons.
A native of Keller, Texas, Shelstead was a three-year letter winner during her prep career and graduated from Melissa High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sports and recreation management from ACU in December 2019 and a master’s degree in student affairs administration from Arkansas Tech in May 2022.
COACHING HISTORY
2025-Present: UNT, Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
2024-25: Pittsburg State, Assistant Coach
2022-23: Arkansas Tech, Assistant Coach
2021-22: Arkansas Tech, Graduate Assistant
PLAYING HISTORY
2017-19: Abilene Christian
2015-16: John Brown
Saturday, November 15
Tuesday, November 11
Saturday, October 18
Thursday, October 09
