OMAHA, Neb. -
Kelly O'Connor has been elevated to associate head coach of the Omaha volleyball program, head coach Matt Buttermore announced. O'Connor served as an assistant the last three seasons.
"Kelly was responsible for us being the best defense in the conference last season," said Buttermore. "Beyond that, she is a coach who is passionate about personal growth and developing constructive and meaningful relationships with our student-athletes. She's been a huge reason for our success, and we are excited to elevate her to this new role and we're lucky she's a Maverick!"
Over the last three seasons, O'Connor helped the Mavericks to a 52-30 overall record including a 20-10 finish in the fall of 2021. Omaha clinched the regular season championship for the first time in Division I history.
Primarily responsible for defensive coaching and scouting, O'Connor helped Omaha achieve increasingly lower opponent hitting percentages since her hire. In 2021, the Mavericks had the sixth toughest non-conference schedule in the country and held those opponents to a .173 hitting percentage. Their defense was even stronger in league play posting a league leading .132 among the Summit teams.
The team's hitting percentage in 2021 was up from 2020. The Mavericks were third best in the conference allowing their opponents to hit .169. Omaha's opponents hit .189 in 2019, which was also third best in the league that season.
O'Connor helped the Mavericks earn one All-America, three All-Region, one Summit League Player of the Year, one Summit League Setter of the Year, one Summit League Defensive Player of the Year, 16 All-Summit, seven Academic All-Summit, and one Academic All-America honors in the last three years.
"First, I want to thank Coach Buttermore and the administration for this opportunity to keep working with our student athletes, staff, and community that supports our university," said O'Connor. "I'm proud of the foundations that we have laid over the last three years, and I look forward to help Omaha volleyball tackle new goals. Go Mavericks!"
