Purdue volleyball associate head coach John Shondell resigns

WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue volleyball will move forward without one of its most pivotal pieces of the past two decades.

John Shondell, who was Purdue's associate head coach, resigned from his position, citing personal and family reasons and a desire to watch his two daughters play.

"I absolutely love the team and the players on the team," Shondell said via text message Sunday.

Shondell was in his 21st season on the Boilermaker volleyball staff, all working under his brother Dave Shondell.

Shondell's daughters are currently a high school senior and sophomore at McCutcheon High School.

Shondell's oldest daughter, Allie, has verbally committed to Purdue's volleyball team. Lexi Shondell is currently McCutcheon's setter. Allie, currently out with an injury, was the setter for McCutcheon's 2021 Class 4A state championship team.

During John Shondell's 20 full seasons with the Boilermakers, Purdue has qualified for the NCAA tournament 17 times, including 10 trips to the Sweet 16 or beyond and four Elite Eight appearances.

Shondell has been absent from Purdue's bench, including two five-set home losses to Nebraska and Northwestern this weekend.

Purdue's coaching staff currently consists of Dave Shondell as head coach, Kathy Jewell as assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator, assistant coach Michael Bouril and director of operations Carrie Gurnell.

"We all just have to step up a little bit for the time being ..." Dave Shondell said after Sunday's match against Northwestern. "I haven't seen that much in the gym necessarily yet. I mean, a little bit, but everybody got an additional coach this year in the sport of volleyball and that's where Michael came in. So it's not like we're any worse than we were here a year ago. It's just we don't have that experienced coach. John was here for 20 years."

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue volleyball associate head coach John Shondell resigns