Kelly Lopez enters her eighth season as assistant volleyball coach at North Dakota State after joining staff in January 2018.
In 2022, Lopez helped guide the Bison to 21-12 overall record and advance to the Summit League Championship semifinal round. NDSU concluded the season earning their first ever appearance in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC). The Bison led the Summit League in 2022 and ranked seventh in the nation in kills with 1,759. NDSU also paced the conference in assists and were positioned 10th in the nation with 1,615.
Prior to NDSU, Lopez was the associate director of sports performance at Boise State University since 2014. She worked directly with seven sports including women’s volleyball and women’s beach volleyball, and also assisted with men’s basketball.
“I am extremely excited and honored to be back at NDSU and work with the women’s volleyball program," said Lopez. "I am grateful for the opportunity Coach (Jennifer) Lopez has given me, and am eager to begin working with our staff and young women."
Lopez was the assistant strength and conditioning coach at North Dakota State from 2012-14, while also serving as a graduate assistant and intern in the NDSU strength and conditioning program working her way up the ladder. The Glyndon, Minn., native earned her bachelor’s degree in exercise science from North Dakota State in 2010 and master’s degree in exercise from NDSU in August 2017.
Her resume includes club volleyball coaching experience for West Fargo, Minnesota Black Ice and Oak Grove. She’s been a regular on the summer volleyball camp circuit at NDSU, West Fargo, Kindred, Hawley, Oak Grove and Courts Plus.
A four-year starter for North Dakota State from 2005-09, Lopez was a two-time Summit League Defensive Player of the Year in leading the Bison to the 2008 league tournament championship, along with a pair of regular season league titles. She was also a two-time all-league second team selection. She still ranks No. 4 all-time at NDSU with 3.49 digs per set and No. 9 with 1,382 digs.
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