Todd Chamberlain, who just completed his eighth year as an assistant coach at Kansas, will join the Cardinal coaching staff according to Dani Busboom Kelly, UofL head coach. Chamberlain, a Louisville native and Trinity High School grad, worked primarily with the Jayhawks’ outside and right-side hitters, and served as the team’s video coordinator and camp director, while assisting with recruitment.
“We are very excited to welcome Todd back to his hometown and to the University of Louisville, said Busboom Kelly, who was named AVCA East Region Coach of the Year in 2017. “Todd spent eight impressive years at the University of Kansas taking them to the Final Four for the first time in program history, while also earning a top 16 seed in the NCAA tournament five times.”
In four of Chamberlain’s seven seasons, he helped KU head coach Ray Bechard earn the Big 12 Coach of the Year award (2012, 2013, 2015, 2016) and helped former associate head coach Laura Kuhn earn AVCA National Assistant of the Year (2015).
The Kansas offense progressed in each of Chamberlain’s years with the program – but none more so than 2015 when the team broke two program records with a .299 attack percentage and 15.1 kills per set.
In his role with the hitters, Chamberlain has guided one of the program’s breakout players – All-American Kelsie Payne. Chamberlain helped transition Payne from a middle blocker in 2014 to a right-side hitter in 2015, and she went on to become the program’s first AVCA First Team All-American, with teammate setter Ainise Havili, and set KU’s record for kills in a season (496). With the help of an All-American setter, the 2015 Jayhawk hitters recorded a program-record .299 attack percentage.
“Kansas made an incredible run and Todd was a huge part of their success. It’s always a bonus when you can bring someone home and Todd understands Louisville athletics and Louisville volleyball. It will be great to have his energy and passion in our gym every day,” said Busboom Kelly.
Chamberlain has also guided Sara McClinton and Chelsea Albers, the duo who became the first hitters in KU history to reach All-America status with AVCA honorable mention recognition in 2013 and both were named to the All-Big 12 First Team. Albers was the first Jayhawk to amass 300+ kills, 200+ digs and 100+ blocks in a season since 1993. The previous fall, McClinton became just the fourth Jayhawk volleyball player to break the 600-kill plateau in only two seasons (601, 2011-12). She ranked in the top-five in both kills (3.29) and points (3.50) per set.
In 2011, Chamberlain helped outside hitter Allison Mayfield turn in a Big 12-best 4.16 kills per set en route to becoming the Jayhawks’ all-time kills leader in a single season (462). In 2010, Chamberlain’s first season, the Jayhawks broke the 1,500-kill mark as a team.
“Todd’s ability to develop relationships based on respect, expertise, and trust will be invaluable to our staff,” said Busboom Kelly. His outstanding communication skills will spark opportunities for us to continue to recruit at the highest level and to develop our student-athletes into the best versions of themselves.“
Chamberlain arrived at Kansas following a one-year stint as the volunteer assistant coach at the University of Kentucky in 2009, when the Wildcats finished 29-5 overall, appeared in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth-consecutive year and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1992. While at UK, three players earned All-America honors, including honorable mention outside hitter Sarah Mendoza. Mendoza finished the season as the Southeastern Conference leader with 4.12 kills per set.
Chamberlain played volleyball for four seasons at Ball State University, where he earned first-team All-Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) honors as a senior after pacing the squad with 3.29 kills per set. Ball State was nationally ranked for portions of all four of Chamberlain’s seasons; the Cardinals compiled a 78-39 (.667) record during those years.
No stranger to the coaching sidelines, Chamberlain has guided several teams to national and state titles. For two seasons, Chamberlain worked as an assistant coach under Steve Shondell at Burris High School in Muncie, Ind. The Burris squad captured the 2-A state championship in both 2008 and 2009. Chamberlain also worked with Mike Lingenfelter as an assistant coach for the Munciana Samurai 18-1 Club team that both the 2009 AAU national championship, but also the 2009 JVDA national championship.
In addition to his collegiate playing career, Chamberlain was a left side attacker on the 2006 Youth National team that played internationally in Cabo Frio, Brazil. In 2007, Chamberlain was a left side attacker for the Junior National training team that practiced at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
He has served as a volleyball camp counselor at Kentucky, Purdue and his alma mater. Additionally, Chamberlain has instructed at elite camps hosted by Saint Louis and the Kentucky-Indiana Volleyball Association (KIVA).
“First off I want to thank Head Coach Dani Busboom Kelly, our Senior Women’s Administrator Christine Herring, and Athletic Director Vince Tyra for this great opportunity at the University of Louisville. I am extremely excited and grateful to be a part of the Cardinal Volleyball Family. The chance to return to my hometown, represent a great university, and coach at an elite volleyball program is an honor. I am forever thankful for the mentors and teams I have had the privilege of coaching that helped provide this opportunity. I have waited a long time to say this officially — Go Cards!”
Chamberlain graduated in 2009 from Ball State with a bachelor’s degree in communications. He began his volleyball career as a stand-out athlete at Louisville’s Trinity High School.
The Cardinals finished Busboom Kelly’s first season at 24-7, 18-2 in the ACC. Wilma Rivera was named the ACC Setter of the Year and libero Molly Sauer was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and both return in 2018. UofL jumped 131 spots in the RPI from a year ago under Busboom Kelly’s tutelage.
Nancy Allison Worley
Associate Director, Sports Information
University of Louisville Athletics
