Kaysie Shebeneck was named the Head Women's Volleyball Coach at Daemen University in January 2025. Shebeneck becomes the 10th head coach in the history of the program, taking the reins from Eli Irizarry who stepped down after three seasons at the helm.
Shebeneck brings eight years worth of collegiate experience - all at the NCAA Division I level - as she steps into a head coaching role for the first time. Most recently, Shebeneck served as the Assistant Women's Volleyball Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, an Ohio Valley Conference affiliate. In her three-season tenure with the Cougars, Shebeneck helped the team to 38 wins and two OVC Championship berths. She also served as an advisor to SIUE's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.Â
"We are excited to be welcoming Kaysie Shebeneck to lead our women's volleyball program" said Traci Murphy, Vice President of Athletics. "It became evident throughout the interview process that Kaysie is a focused and thoughtful leader, and someone who truly understands what it means to develop student-athletes, both on and off the court. Through her own playing and coaching experiences, she knows what high level volleyball looks like, and her vision really aligns with the things we value most at Daemen."
Prior to her time at SIUE, Shebeneck spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons as the Assistant Women's Volleyball Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Bradley University, a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. Shebeneck helped lead the Braves to a 29-22 record and a pair of MVC Championship berths, while also navigating the challenges of competing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Braves posted a 12-6 conference record in 2021, and were selected for the Women's National Invitational Championship where they advanced to the second round.Â
Shebeneck's first assistant coaching position came at the State University of New York at Buffalo in 2019 when she helped the Bulls advance to the Mid-American Conference Championship quarterfinals. Before coming to UB, Shebeneck spent two seasons as the Director of Volleyball Operations at Washington State University. Her efforts helped the Cougars to a 41-26 record and a pair of NCAA tournament berths, including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2018. While at WSU, she also coached the men's club volleyball team.Â
"It is an honor to step into this role and work alongside such a dedicated team of individuals committed to providing a great student-athlete experience," Shebeneck said. "Thank you to Traci and the entire administration for their trust and consideration. I'm honored to have the opportunity to lead the Daemen women's volleyball program. It's clear that at Daemen, you are part of a team, and I am thrilled to begin this new chapter. I look forward to working with this talented group of athletes and staff as we continue to build Daemen Volleyball. A heartfelt thank you to the coaches who've shaped my journey, and to my family for their unwavering support and belief."Â
A native of Racine, Wisconsin, Shebeneck holds a Master's Degree in Kinesiology from SIUE, a program she completed in 2023. She obtained Bachelor of Arts Degrees in both Spanish and International Studies from Texas A&M University in 2017. She was a four-year member of the Texas A&M women's volleyball team, helping the Aggies to four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and the 2015 Southeastern Conference championship. Texas A&M posted an 84-38 record during her time with the program.Â
As a scholastic student-athlete, Shebeneck was a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Wisconsin.Â
Shebeneck inherits a program that has developed into one of the premier outfits in the East Region of NCAA Division II. The Wildcats have won at least a share of four consecutive East Coast Conference regular season titles, and have made six NCAA tournament appearances in the last nine seasons. The program is slated to return 11 players, including three starters, from their 2024 team which posted a 17-9 overall record and a 9-3 mark in conference play.Â
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT KAYSIE SHEBENECK…
"I couldn't be more excited for Kaysie and the Daemen volleyball program to have each other. Kaysie's passion for the game of volleyball is only matched by her commitment to creating connections and helping others reach their full potential. As one of the brightest volleyball minds, she has an unwavering competitive drive to be the best. What truly sets her apart, though, is her incredible ability to connect with people, making everyone feel welcomed and valued. I'm excited to see her lead the Daemen program to new heights!"
- Leigh Barea, Head Women's Volleyball Coach, University of Wisconsin-Parkside
"Daemen got a great one in hiring Kaysie Shebeneck as their newest Head Volleyball Coach. Kaysie is not just a great coach, but also a great human. I know she is ready to be an excellent leader of her own program where her insight into the game and ability to make connections will make an immediate impact. I am so proud of Kaysie and excited to see all she does for the Daemen Wildcats!"
- Sondra D'Amore, Head Women's Volleyball, Northern Illinois University
"I am thrilled for Kaysie and know she will be a fantastic head coach! Her journey to this point is a testament to her relentless hard work and her remarkable ability to connect with and inspire those around her. Kaysie's dedication to the sport of volleyball, her knowledge, and her people-oriented approach will undoubtedly elevate Daemen's volleyball program to new heights."
- Jen Greeny, Head Women's Volleyball Coach, West Virginia University
"I am so happy for Kaysie to start her head coaching career at Daemen. Daemen is a great institution where Kaysie's strengths are sure to shine. She is competitive, hardworking and great at building relationships. She has the technical knowledge, recruiting abilities and leadership skills to be a great head coach. She is one of the hardest workers I have ever met. All of these qualities contributed to the success of our student-athletes at SIUE and we are grateful for her time here. We are excited for her and wish her all the best!"
- Kendall Paulus, Head Women's Volleyball Coach, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
"Kaysie is an excellent hire for Daemen University. Her ability to recruit and coach student-athletes at a high level will translate with tons of continued success at Daemen. Her ability to create strong relationships with her student-athletes will go a long way in creating a championship level program each year. It is a big win for Daemen's program that will surely reach many program milestones over her tenure."
- Matt Stolz, Assistant Women's Volleyball Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Southeast Missouri State University
"The Daemen volleyball program is getting a great one in Kaysie. Her energy is unmatched! She takes great pride in her work on and off the court and those details don't go unnoticed by her peers and athletes. Kaysie's passion shows in every practice drill, game huddle and film session, you won't find a more enthusiastic person. I know the athletes she works with will feel empowered and encouraged to do great things. I am excited to see how she grows the program and athletes at Daemen."
- Carol Torok, Head Women's Volleyball Coach, University of Texas-San Antonio
