Head Coach

Ronda Shirley

Shirley comes to WCU with over 23 years of coaching experience and has spent the last four years at USC Upstate. Prior to her time at Upstate, Shirley  was a dominate force on the junior college scene with 585 victories at Hutchinson CC (KS), Tyler, and Navarro. Shirley has had nine teams qualify for NJCAA National Tournaments, including a runner-up finish in 2013. In 2015, Shirley was inducted into the NJCAA  Coaches Association Hall of Fame.   

"We are extremely excited to be able to bring in a coach like Ronda Shirley to lead our volleyball program," said Pulley. "Not only is she a tremendous X's and O's coach but she understands the development of the student-athlete  as whole, which is so very important in our athletic department." 

"I am very grateful to have been given this opportunity to become the next Head Volleyball Coach at William Carey University. I am excited about continuing the success and building upon the strong foundation that Kelsea Weldon  has established, within the volleyball program," said Shirley. "I look forward to working under the leadership and guidance of Athletic Director DJ Pulley. There is an amazing culture within the athletic department at WCU. The overwhelming support from the  President, Athletic Director, and the other sports programs was a huge factor in my decision, along with the outstanding academic opportunities for the student-athletes. I want to personally thank President Dr. Burnett & Athletic Director DJ Pulley for this  amazing opportunity; to be a part of William Carey University and the family atmosphere it provides."

She began her coaching career in 1995 at her alma mater, Brown Mackie, and spent four seasons on the sidelines. Shirley was named the Coach of the Year in 1998.

Over her 19 seasons as a head coach, Shirley has coached five conference Players of the Year and seven conference Freshmen of the Year. She also had 53 All-Conference, 36 All-Region and 15 All-American student-athletes. Her student-athletes  have also excelled in the classroom leading to 12 Academic All-Americans.

Shirley is a 1992 graduate of Brown Mackie College in Salina, Kansas and a 1995 graduate of Kentucky Wesleyan. She and her husband, Jeff, have six children.