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Kentucky State University officials announced the addition of an experienced volleyball head coach with a proven track record Thursday.

DiShondra Goree, three-time Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) volleyball coach of the year, will take the helm of Kentucky State’s highly successful volleyball program.

“I’m very excited for this new chapter,” Goree said. “I look forward to meeting and working with my team. I am ready to uphold the high standards and expectations of becoming a Thorobred.”

Goree spent the past five seasons at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina as the volleyball head coach. During the 2017-18 season, Goree led Shaw to a 27-5 overall record; an undefeated record at home; a second consecutive CIAA Southern Division title; a 15-1 conference record and runners-up in the CIAA. During the 2016-17 season, Shaw won the CIAA championship for the first time in 21 years. They were also the first team in the program’s history to earn an automatic bid to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regional tournament.

Goree is a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana and was a three-sport athlete (volleyball, basketball, softball) in high school. After college, Goree served as volleyball head coach and assistant softball coach at South Side High School and Paul Harding High School for a total of six seasons.

Goree earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Shaw University in 2004. She earned her master’s in business administration from the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne in 2008. Goree has also completed one year of coursework toward a doctorate in organizational leadership at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana.

“Coach Goree and her body of work as a mentor, coach and champion are an example of her commitment to the academic excellence, overall experience, winning tradition, opportunities and winning-the-right-way that has me excited for the future of Thorobrette volleyball,” Kentucky State University Director of Athletics Etienne M. Thomas said.

Thomas thanked former head coach Katrina English for the championship foundation English built prior to Thomas’ arrival.

“I knew it would be no easy task finding the perfect fit for this championship team, but imperative to get it right and I know we have found that in three-time CIAA volleyball coach of the year, Ms. DiShondra Goree,” Thomas said.

The Kentucky State volleyball program won its third consecutive Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament championship last season and its fourth championship in the last five years.