Butler volleyball coach Kyle Shondell will face his uncle John Shondell, an assistant coach at Wisconsin, in an exhibition match on August 14. The matchup represents a family reunion among coaching ranks, as Kyle also has a second exhibition scheduled against his father Dave Shondell’s top-10 Purdue program on August 21. The contests highlight the influential Shondell coaching legacy across multiple collegiate volleyball programs.
Kyle credits much of his coaching philosophy to his family members, particularly his uncle John. While many recognize his father’s influence on his coaching style, Kyle emphasizes that John has significantly shaped his approach to player training and technical instruction. Wisconsin head coach Kelly Sheffield, who has Indiana roots connecting him to the Shondell family, notes that Kyle embodies qualities from both relatives—competitiveness from his father and exceptional training abilities from his uncle.
The Butler program has struggled recently, posting a 12-17 record in 2025 and finishing ninth in the Big East. However, Kyle showed promise in a spring exhibition against Purdue that went to five sets. John Shondell expressed optimism about Kyle’s future at Butler, predicting the Bulldogs could compete with Marquette within two years as the program develops its roster. Playing against elite competition like Wisconsin and Purdue during the preseason should help accelerate that growth trajectory.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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