KAYLEE THOMAS

• Led recruiting efforts, hosting player meetings on recruiting logistics, strategies, and communications.
• Laid the groundwork for recruiting relationships between the club and local colleges
• Head coach of the 16u Armour Team, with a focus on defensive development and implementing structured defensive systems.
• Conducted clinics and private lessons for athletes of all positions

In addition to previous operational duties listed below, assumed assistant coach duties, including but not limited to:

• Gained experience coaching a nationally ranked, conference champion, and a historically accomplished Division I
• Served as Offensive Coordinator, responsible for in-game offensive strategies and scouting opposing team defenses, as well as presenting the opponent scout to the team.
• Assisted in training all areas of the game, with a specific focus on attackers, setter decision-making, and serve-and-pass.
• Gained a rudimentary knowledge of VolleyStation used for opponent scouting
• Assisted in practice planning, player development, and game preparation.
• Analyzed and reviewed game and practice film to enhance player performance and strategic adjustments.
• Assisted in recruiting efforts: evaluating prospective athletes, maintaining relationships with recruits, and gaining experience using University Athlete for recruiting management.

Key Achievements:

• Led team to an undefeated A-10 Championship season, advancing to the NCAA Tournament second round.
• Ranked 20th in NCAA AVCA poll, with offensive national rankings of 18th in hitting percentage, 28th in kills per set, and 31st in assists per set.
• Coached and mentored Lexie Almodovar (A-10 Player of the Year & AVCA Midwest Region Player of the Year), Amelia Moore (A-10 First Team & D1 Regional First Team), and Alyssa Miller (A-10 Second Team).

• Oversaw the majority of budgeting, logistics, and team operations for the volleyball program.
• Assisted the head coach in opponent scheduling, ensuring strategic matchups and efficient travel planning.
• Coordinated team travel, including airfare, lodging, transportation, and meals, while organizing schedules and communications through Teamworks. Served as the primary liaison with opponent team operations staff to coordinate practice schedules, pre-game arrangements, and game operations.
• Organized staff, team, and player meetings, ensuring alignment on game strategy, development, and program objectives.
• Assisted with NCAA compliance, academic monitoring, and eligibility coordination for student-athletes, utilizing ARMS and JumpForward for compliance and administrative tasks, including CARA hours.
• Managed program communications between administration, staff, support staff, players, family, and alumni.
• Served as Summer Camp Director, overseeing planning and execution of Dayton Volleyball Summer Camps.
• Oversaw facility operations and equipment management, assisting with facility upgrades, home game operations, and team gear ordering through BSN Sports and Nike.
• Created social media and recruiting content using Photoshop and Canva, ensuring compliance with NCAA recruiting regulations.

• Gained experience in coaching, recruiting, and overall logistics of a Division I program.
• Utilized Volleymetrics to review, analyze, and tag practice and game film.
• Assisted with planning and execution of volleyball summer camps.
• Participated in and annotated all staff meetings.

• Played as a libero/defensive specialist during a 5th-year season in the Big Ten Conference.
• Recruited as a mature leader, contributing experience and stability to the team.
• One of only three players to compete in all 112 sets of the season.

• Libero/defensive specialist - competed as a four-year starter, playing in all matches throughout career and serving as team captain all but freshman year
• Led the team in digs as a junior with 424 total (4.04/set) and became the 14th player in Alabama history to surpass 1,000 career digs
• Earned multiple All-Tournament Team honors (UB Invite, Blazer Invitational, Crimson-White)