COACHING STAFF |
Jennifer Lopez
Head Coach
Former Bison standout Jennifer Lopez joined the North Dakota State volleyball staff as an assistant in May 2015, was named NDSU’s interim head coach in May 2017 and officially appointed the program’s 12th head coach in October 2017.
Lopez was selected as one of the AVCA’s 2018 “Top Thirty under 30” award recipients after leading the Bison to a 19-9 record including 9-5 in the Summit League last season.
She was the Summit League Setter of the Year, Player of the Year and Tournament MVP in 2011 as a senior for the Bison. She was a three-time All-Summit League selection, leading NDSU to four straight regular season league titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances from 2008-11.
Before returning to NDSU, Lopez served as the head girls’ volleyball coach at Oak Grove Lutheran High School in Fargo for the 2013-14 season and as an assistant coach at West Fargo Sheyenne High School for 2014-15. She was also highly involved in area instructional camps and club volleyball.
“Being able to give back to the university that did so much for me as a student-athlete is very rewarding,” said Lopez. “The values and standards that NDSU upholds are a part of who I am, and I hope I can continue to instill the tradition of success and hard work in developing young women. The positive impact that NDSU has had on my life is one that I hope I am able to provide to our kids during their time spent at NDSU.”
As an assistant coach, Lopez served as NDSU’s offensive coordinator, overseeing the technical training and skill development combined with play calling and decision-making at the setter position.
A native of Glyndon, Minn., Lopez ranks among the NDSU all-time top 10 in total assists, assists per set and digs per set.
She graduated from NDSU in 2014 with a degree in mathematics education and a minor in coaching.
Kelly Lopez
Assistant Coach
Kelly Lopez enters her fifth season as assistant volleyball coach at North Dakota State after joining staff in January 2018.
“Her leadership, values, and passion for the game of volleyball and NDSU is a great fit,” said head coach Jennifer Lopez.
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. I am grateful for the opportunity Coach (Jennifer) Lopez has given me, and am eager to begin working with our staff and young women,” said Lopez.
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. Kelly still ranks No. 4 all-time at NDSU with 3.49 digs per set and No. 9 with 1,382 digs.
Drew Davis
Assistant Coach
Drew Davis enters his sixth season as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at North Dakota State after joining the staff in February 2018.
In 2022, Davis 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, Davis spent one season as a volunteer assistant at Creighton in 2017. The Bluejays compiled a 26-7 overall record, including a 16-2 mark in Big East play. Creighton won the Big East regular season, tournament championship, and hosted the first round of NCAA tournament. Creighton beat Coastal Carolina before falling short against Michigan State.
Davis began his college career at Erskine College in Due West, S.C., before completing his career at Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C. As a senior, Davis played in 19 matches and 61 sets, recording 113 digs, 97 kills, 25 blocks, nine aces and eight assists for the Saints.
A native of Ashville, N.C., Davis graduated from Limestone College in May 2017 with a bachelor's degree in education with a minor in coaching.