Kelsey Vacula will be the next varsity head volleyball coach for Nacogdoches High School. Vacula is a Denton native and has been junior varsity coach at Sunnyvale High School near Dallas and with the Madfrog Volleyball Club.
“I’m thrilled to join Nacogdoches High School as the new volleyball head coach,” she said. “Coaching, for me, is about so much more than success on the court – it’s about building strong, resilient student-athletes who are ready for whatever life throws their way.
“I’m passionate about helping young people develop both their physical skills and their mental toughness, because I believe confidence, grit, and mindset are just as important as any play we run.”
Vacula has 13 years experience coaching around the Dallas area. Her final junior varsity team at Sunnyvale went undefeated.
“I love equipping athletes with the tools – both physical and mental – to compete at the highest level,” Vacula said. “I also draw from training philosophies like Gold Medal Squared, The Art of Coaching Volleyball, and Max Out Mindset to create well-rounded, competitive teams.
Outside of coaching, Vacula said she enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children – they’re all big fans of the outdoors, hiking and fishing and relaxing in the mountains.
“It’s truly an honor to be part of the Dragon family, and I can’t wait to get to work,” Vacula said.
She is replacing Stephanie Bradford, who announced last fall that she was stepping away from coaching.