LAS VEGAS – The UNLV volleyball program announced Monday the hiring of Matt Kuelpman as an assistant coach, bolstering the team’s technical expertise and tactical approach ahead of the upcoming season. Head coach Malia Shoji expressed enthusiasm about Kuelpman’s character, professionalism, and passion for the sport, highlighting his alignment with the program’s existing culture and future ambitions.
Kuelpman joins the Rebels after spending the 2023 season as the assistant coach and offensive coordinator for the University of New Mexico Lobos. During his tenure in Albuquerque, the Lobos averaged 12.26 kills per set, with Uxue Guereca and Kaitlynn Biassou both exceeding 380 kills each and earning All-Mountain West honors. UNM finished tied for fourth in the conference standings, securing their third consecutive Mountain West Tournament appearance, where they defeated UNLV in a five-set thriller to advance to the semifinals.
Prior to his time at New Mexico, Kuelpman spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Weber State University, also serving as the recruiting coordinator for the 2023 and 2025 classes. His responsibilities at Weber State encompassed coaching the back row defense, coordinating offensive strategies during matches, and overseeing the team’s blocking, serving, and defensive tactics. He also managed team travel and camps. Kuelpman’s impact at Weber State was significant, contributing to improvements in digs per set and kills per set, and ultimately leading to two Big Sky Championship titles.
Weber State Success
During Kuelpman’s time with the Wildcats, the program experienced a period of sustained success. In 2019, Weber State reached the quarterfinals of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) after defeating Mountain West Conference opponents Boise State and Wyoming. The team achieved its best-ever season in 2020, posting a 15-1 record and securing the first Big Sky regular season title in program history, followed by a conference tournament championship – the first since 1988. Weber State continued its winning ways in 2021, repeating as conference champions and establishing a 25-match home winning streak, the longest in the nation at the time. Weber State Athletics details these accomplishments.
Impact on Weber State’s Performance
Kuelpman’s coaching directly contributed to measurable improvements in Weber State’s performance. Defensively, the Wildcats increased their digs per set from 15.43 to 16.61 in 2019, climbing from eighth to second in the Big Sky Conference and ranking 41st nationally. Offensively, kills per set improved from 12.78 to 13.14, placing them second in the conference. The team’s hitting percentage also rose to .240, moving them to the top spot in the Big Sky. These improvements were instrumental in the Wildcats’ overall success and their emergence as a dominant force in the conference.
Coach Shoji emphasized Kuelpman’s strong mentorship background, noting he has learned from respected coaches and possesses a deep understanding of the game. She expressed confidence that his skills will be a valuable asset to the UNLV program as they strive for continued growth and success. “He also has great respect for what we’ve built over the past few years and immediately bought into the vision for where we desire to take UNLV volleyball next,” Shoji said. The University of New Mexico Athletics website provides further details on Kuelpman’s background.
As Kuelpman transitions to UNLV, the program looks to build on its recent successes and continue its ascent in the Mountain West Conference. The addition of a coach with his proven track record and dedication to player development signals a commitment to excellence and a bright future for Rebel volleyball.
The UNLV volleyball team will undoubtedly benefit from Kuelpman’s experience and expertise as they prepare for the challenges ahead. Fans and supporters can look forward to seeing the impact of this new addition to the coaching staff as the season progresses.
