KENNESAW, Ga. | Sep 6, 2018

Keith Schunzel has contract through 2022

Kennesaw State University's Board of Regents approved a three-year contract extension for Kennesaw State volleyball coach Keith Schunzel, it was announced Thursday. His contract now runs through the 2022 season.

Since taking over the team in 2013, Schunzel has continually elevated the program, guiding the Owls to their first ASUN Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament berth last season. The 2017 squad finished the year with a 21-5 record, the most wins in program history.

“Coach Schunzel has built his team into one of the elite programs in the country and we couldn’t be happier to have him continue to lead our volleyball team into the future,” said Director of Athletics Milton Overton. “His ability to recruit academically and athletically talented student-athletes and win championships has established a course for continued future success. Keith continues to lead with integrity and teach our student-athletes the importance of excelling on and off the floor in every area of life.”

In his five years at Kennesaw State, Schunzel has accrued a 66-56 record, including leading the current squad to a 6-0 record early in the 2018 season, matching the best start in program history.

The Owls have racked up honors and awards under Schunzel for their feats both on and off the court. Five players have been named ASUN First-Team All-Conference with senior Liesl Engelbrecht becoming the first KSU volleyball player in program history to be named to the AVCA South All-Region Team in 2017.

Just as notable is the Owls performance in the classroom. Since Shunzel’s arrival, the Owls have maintained over a 3.0 GPA every year. 2017 senior Kristi Piedimonte earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors three years running (2015-17) including the program’s first-ever CoSIDA First-Team Academic All-America selection in 2017.

With back-to-back regular season ASUN championships under his belt heading into the 2018 season, Schunzel will continue to raise the incredible standard he has already set in his time as an Owl.

"I want to thank Milton and President Whitten for their belief in me and in this program. I also want to thank coach Whitlock for his mentorship and guidance as we developed this program into what it is today. The commitment that KSU has made to volleyball is so exciting as a head coach because we came in with big dreams and expectations, and as we move forward I am more excited than ever to reach our goals and do it at a university where so many great things are happening both inside and outside of the athletic department.”

Kennesaw State continues the 2018 campaign this weekend at the Panther Invitational in Pittsburgh, Pa., opening the tournament against hosts Pittsburgh Friday at 10:30 a.m.

For more information on Kennesaw State athletics, follow @KSUOwlNation on Twitter or like Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook and Instagram.

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 45,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.