EAST LANSING— Vice President & Director of Athletics Alan Haller announced that Michigan State volleyball alumni Kristen Kelsay as the new MSU volleyball head coach on Sunday.
“I’m thrilled to announce that Kristen Kelsay is returning to East Lansing to guide the Spartan volleyball program,” Haller said in a statement. “From her time as a Spartan student-athlete to her ascension through the coaching ranks, including nine seasons as a Big Ten assistant, her journey has brought her back home and prepared her well for the task at hand.”
This decision follows the recent coaching change made. Former head coach Leah Johnson and Haller announced the decision as a “mutual decision to part ways” in a statement released on Monday. Johnson departs from MSU after three seasons, accumulating a 43-50 record while recording a 19-41 record in conference play.
Originally from Wheaton, Illinois, Kelsay graduated from MSU with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and obtained a master’s in sports administration from Northwestern. This past season Kelsay was a part of the Minnesota coaching staff, where she served as assistant coach to Keegan Cook.
At Minnesota, Kelsay worked with the setters and led recruiting efforts for the Golden Gophers. Her 2025 recruiting class was ranked by multiple sites as a top 10 class nationally.
In 2024, Kelsay helped Minnesota to its 10th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and regular season top 10 victories over then-No. 1 Texas and then-No. 7 Wisconsin.
Kelsay is a two-time team captain while wearing the green & white from 2010-13, as she ranks fourth in program history in sets played (473) and seventh in career assists (3,040).
She also helped send the Spartans to back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances in 2012 and 2013. Following her senior campaign she was awarded the Michigan State Athletics’ Chester Brewer Leadership Award and the Dr. James Feurig Achievement and Service Award.
Following her athletic career post-graduation, she served as an assistant coach for MSU volleyball helping the team to a four-year record of 85-48 along with an Elite Eight appearance in 2017.
Additionally, she helped MSU reach its first regional finals appearance for the Spartans since 1996. Kelsay coached MSU’s all-time assist leader and two-time All-American, Rachel Minarick.
Kelsay enters the helm at MSU as the eighth head coach in program history.
With multiple contributors such as junior outside hitter Akasha Anderson transferring to Purdue and junior outside hitter Taylor Preston and junior middle blocker Nil Okur entering the transfer portal, Kelsay’s recruiting efforts should come into effect soon for the Spartans.
MSU entered the offseason after a 13-18 record in 2024, finishing 6-14 in Big Ten play.
