On Thursday, August 15th, Salem College Director of Athletics Michael Williams named assistant volleyball coach Kelley Coats as the department’s Senior Women’s Administrator (SWA).
Kelley (Newton) Coats originally joined Salem College in August 2024 when she was named as the Assistant Coach for the Spirit volleyball programs.
One of the top assistant coaches in the USA South, Coats brought her knowledge of the game to Salem and made an immediate impact in her first year.
After all, Salem again exceeded the preseason expectations in 2024, earning its first-ever share of the USA South Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship after being picked fifth in the polls by the league’s coaches. Salem not only established the program record for most wins in a season (30), but it also reached the USA South Conference Tournament Championship, facing No. 1 seed Southern Virginia.
Coats also helped Salem post at least 20 wins for the third straight season, a program first, with a 30-6 mark. The Spirits claimed 15 of those wins in USA South Conference play, which also marked a program first, giving them three consecutive seasons with at least double-digit league wins, another program record.
Along with her day-to-day responsibilities with the volleyball programs, in her role as SWA at Salem College, Coats will assist Williams in a number of key facets involving the Department of Athletics.
Among the responsibilities for Coats, she will assist in the hiring procedures of new coaches and athletic staff; coordinate the Student-Athlete Advisory Council and represent Salem College at NCAA initiatives as the Senior Women’s Administrator.
Coats will also develop strategies and initiatives with the Salem College Office for Equity and Compliance to promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in intercollegiate athletics in support of gender equity and Title IX initiatives.
Coats gained coaching experience in volleyball after working with a multitude of Club Volleyball programs in the Triad of North Carolina. She serves as a head coach at Spears YMCA in Greensboro, conducting both camps and clinics for youth ranging in age from 10 to 15 years old.
Coats served as the head coach at High Point Christian Academy from 2005 until 2015, working with the Ragsdale YMCA (2010-12) along the way. In 2011, Coats was the head coach of the Carolina Region Volleyball both at Champions Volleyball Club and High Point Hitters.
After attending Ledford High School, Coats continued her volleyball career collegiately at Catawba College, where she graduated with a bachelor of arts in international business and earned minors in both business administration and French in 1990.
Coats wrapped up a decorated career with the Indians, appearing in 74 matches over four seasons. She amassed 367 assists, 40 digs, 11 aces and six kills. Her teams qualified for the NAIA District 26 Tournament on four occasions, winning the Carolinas Conference in 1988 and the South Atlantic Conference crown in 1989.
Coats played a key role in helping her Catawba team win the NAIA District 26 and Bi-District Championships in 1989. The 1988 unit set the program record for most wins in a season (38-3) and the 1989 team, which qualified for the NAIA Tournament, came through with a mark or 32-11.
On the courts, Coats and her teammates went onto help the Indians reach the NAIA National Tournament in 1989. From 1988-1991 the volleyball team enjoyed much success winning two conference regular season championships, two conference tournament championships.
