Drury University selected Kelly Richardson as its new volleyball head coach, Vice President and Director of Athletics Nyla Milleson announced on January 12, 2026.
An established pillar of the volleyball community in southwest Missouri, Richardson brings a wealth of experience building and directing successful programs at nearly every level of competition to the Drury campus. She possesses more than a decade of collegiate head coaching experience at the NCAA Division I and II levels, as well as administrative expertise in leading the largest Elite club in southwest Missouri.
Richardson becomes the 10th head coach in Drury volleyball history, succeeding Jenifer Bahner-Hill, who completed a 12-year tenure as the Panthers coach at the conclusion of the 2025 season.
"We're pleased to welcome Kelly and her family to Drury," Milleson commented. "She has been an integral part of our volleyball community and has played a significant role in the development of countless student-athletes in our region. She has also shown the ability to lead and develop successful programs at all levels, and we feel she possesses the abilities necessary to take Drury volleyball to the next level."
Most recently, Richardson has led 417 Juniors Volleyball Club, serving as club director and Elite coach for the Springfield-based organization since 2018. Concurrently, she has served as sport management program coordinator for her alma mater, Evangel University.
Richardson returned to the Ozarks following a three-year stint as head coach at Division I Western Illinois from 2015-18. In Macomb, she mentored a Leathernecks program that had not turned in a winning overall record since 2005, leading WIU to improved win totals each season. Prior to taking the reins in Macomb, Richardson spent one season as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the University of Texas at Arlington, helping the Mavericks to a 25-9 overall record, including a 14-6 mark in Sun Belt Conference play. UTA posted its best overall record in two decades, produced two All-SBC selections, including an AVCA Honorable Mention All-America honoree.
Before ascending to the Division I coaching ranks, Richardson helped build another successful program as head coach of neighboring Southwest Baptist from 2007 through 2013. She gradually developed the Bearcats into a winning program, with her final SBU club matching the program record for wins in a season with 17, while posting its first winning season since 1987.
In Ricardson's first year in Bolivar, the Bearcats nearly doubled their win total from the previous year and won their first home MIAA conference match in seven years. The following season, SBU earned a regional ranking for the first time in program history, while doubling its win total in conference play. During her seven-year tenure at SBU, she totaled 83 victories, coaching the Bearcats to double-digit wins six times – the longest period in program history and first multi-year stretch since 1987-89.
Before entering the collegiate coaching ranks, Richardson served as head coach at Republic High School (2005-06). She coached three all-state performers and led her 2005 team to the program's first MSHSAA Final Four berth, taking third place in Class 3.
Richardson competed as a collegiate standout in her own playing days, beginning her career at Missouri State, before transferring to Evangel. During her final three years (2001-03), she was a three-time All-Heart Conference selection and became the first NAIA All-American in Evangel history. She earned honorable mention recognition in 2002, before picking up third-team honors as a senior after setting the EU single-season record for kills. A 2016 inductee into Evangel's Athletics Hall of Fame, she ranks among the Valor's all-time leaders in a number of career statistical categories, including kills and assists.
Richardson completed her bachelor's degree from Evangel, before earning a master's degree in athletic administration and activity from SBU.
Richardson and her husband, Robb, have two children – a son, Rylan, and a daughter, Hartley.
