Botsford Adds Three Members to Coaching StaffBotsford Adds Three Members to Coaching Staff

Botsford Adds Three Members to Coaching Staff

by Jenna VanHoose

ORLANDO – UCF volleyball head coach Matt Botsford announced the addition of three coaches to his staff on Wednesday. 

Kate Morrell, Sean Kiracofe and Trevor Kennan will join the UCF volleyball program with more than 30 years of combined experience. 

“My No. 1 priority here at UCF is to put our student-athletes in position to be successful. Surrounding them with a talented, caring, and driven staff is the first step in assuring that we can do exactly that. I am absolutely thrilled with the additions that have been made and look forward to working together with each of them to elevate UCF volleyball to the top of the collegiate volleyball landscape.”

Matt BotsfordVolleyball Head Coach

Morrell, a former professional volleyball player with nine years of coaching experience, will serve as UCF volleyball’s associate head coach.

Morrell joins the Knights after completing a five-year standout run as FGCU’s associate head coach alongside Botsford. Together, the duo produced 120 program wins with four NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2023, Morrell contributed to the team’s 26-7 record with a 15-1 conference mark. She also helped the Eagles clinch both the regular season and conference titles, allowing the squad to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in program history. 

Kate and I have spent the last five years with one another, and I have seen firsthand what a talented coach she is and what a significant contribution she makes to every team she is with. Her ability to communicate, motivate, and build relationships was a key factor in our previous successes, and I know she will immediately make her presence felt in those areas. Kate is an elite recruiter with a tireless work ethic, and I am excited to have her on our team.

Matt BotsfordVolleyball Head Coach

Her tenure with Botsford at FGCU led the Eagles to several historical milestones, including an exceptional 2021 season where they tied a program record for wins with 27, captured the Atlantic Sun (ASUN) Championship, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round for the first time in program history, where they faced eventual national champion Wisconsin. 

Prior to FGCU, Morrell served as an assistant coach for three years at Mercer University where she worked with both the beach and indoor programs. There, she held coaching responsibilities for the beach program while also training and recruiting indoor players. In her time recruiting, two of Morrell’s players earned Southern Conference all-freshman team honors in 2018 eventually both earning a spot on the 2019 Southern Conference all-tournament team.

Morrell initially got her coaching start in June 2016 at Texas One Volleyball where she held the title of Master Coach until May 2017. 

Before becoming a coach, Morrell played as an outside hitter at UAB after a one-year stint at Hutchinson Community College. In her time at UAB, she was a member of both the school's indoor and beach programs, a three-year letterwinner, and in 2012-13 was named team captain and then named to the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll. Morrell followed up her collegiate career with a successful professional career that allowed her to compete in places such as the Philippines, Switzerland and the Netherlands. 

Kiracofe, a 10-year head coaching veteran, joins the program as an assistant coach.

He spent the previous 10 seasons as the head coach at Northwestern State, where he was the longest-tenured coach in volleyball history. During the 2022 season, he became the program record holder for career wins and earned his 100th career victory in a 3-0 sweep of Grambling on Sept. 12, 2023.

Sean is a remarkable tactician and trainer, and I have always respected and appreciated his ability to teach the game. He is one of the top blocking coaches in the nation and with his experience as a head coach over the last decade, I know he will be an amazing resource for our players and staff. Having spent valuable time in the gym with Sean over the years, what is very apparent is his attention to detail and commitment to the student-athlete. Sean will work primarily with our middle hitters while overseeing our net defense.

Matt BotsfordVolleyball Head Coach

The Demons recorded their fifth season with a .500 or better record during conference play under Kiracofe in Southland Conference play during the 2023 season, the most by one coach in program history. They earned their seventh trip to the Southland Conference Tournament in nine seasons that year.

Kiracofe’s wealth of knowledge as a blocker helped NSU produce six of the top 10 blocking seasons during his tenure. In 2021, Jaylibeth Garcia-Rosa produced the eighth-highest single-season mark at the time in total blocks with 99. A year later, the freshman duo of Reaghan Thompson and Jordan Gamble became the first teammates to record 100 or more blocks in a single season in school history. Thompson broke the school single-season record for blocks with 164 in 2023. Thompson ranked in the top 10 nationally in total blocks and blocks per set on the season and as a team, the Demons ranked 15th in the NCAA in blocks per set at 2.71. Thompson and the Demons led the Southland Conference in blocks each of the past two seasons.

Kiracofe-coached players now account for eight of the top 13 best single-season block totals in program history.

His emphasis on defense was also proven by libero Ashlyn Svoboda and six-rotation outside hitter Symone Wesley being the first teammates to record 500 digs in the same season during the 2022 campaign.

Kiracofe became the 14th head coach in NSU program history on April 7, 2015. He brought a decorated resume to the position, having coached at SMU, UNLV, Montana State and UTEP in a career that has spanned more than a decade.

In 2011, his first season after returning to SMU, Kiracofe tutored Courtney Manning, the NCAA’s leader in blocks (184). Kiracofe produced the top blocking team in the American Athletic Conference in 2014 and the 2011 Conference USA leaders in that category.

A native Texan, Kiracofe helped lead SMU to a 48-14 record in his final two seasons in Dallas and coached a pair of first-team all-conference middle blockers. Under his direction, SMU’s Caroline Young was a three-time, first-team all-conference selection and an honorable mention All-American.

Kiracofe is a 1999 graduate of Texas Tech with a bachelor of arts in political science and a minor in history.  He was a four-year starter and a two-year captain for the Red Raiders club team, which he helped lead to top-25 rankings in 1998 and 1999.

He and his wife, Kerri, have two children – a son, Walker, and a daughter, Reese.

Kennan, who spent the last three seasons with the Virginia volleyball program, joins the staff as assistant coach. 

Trevor has quickly built a reputation as a dynamic and driven young coach who is excellent in the gym. His passion for the game is infectious and his ability to teach and connect with the players will be a huge asset to UCF volleyball. As a Florida native, Trevor immediately recognized the special opportunity we have here and was eager to join and contribute to our long-term vision. He will be working with our defensive players/liberos while also helping to oversee team defense and first touch.

Matt BotsfordVolleyball Head Coach

Kennan started his coaching career with UVA in the 2022-23 season as a volunteer assistant coach and not long after was promoted to assistant coach in August 2023. During his time with the Cavaliers, the program won 44 matches. Most recently he helped guide the team to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship in the 2024-25 season, after compiling a 21-11 record.

A three-sport athlete in high school, Kennan pursued an athletic career in volleyball with George Mason. After four years with the team, Kennan graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sports management and a minor in coaching in 2022.

The Redington Beach native finds himself back in the Sunshine State to continue his collegiate coaching career.