Valkyries name volleyball head
When considering coaching candidates, some administrators value youth while others prefer experience. Bigfork High School athletic director Shannon Smith landed both last Friday when Kelsey Jensen was hired as the school's new head volleyball coach.
Jensen, 24, graduated from Whitefish High School just six years ago, but owns a wealth of athletic experience.
Jensen played four years of varsity volleyball at Whitefish, earning all-conference honors twice while contributing to a Class A state championship. She was also an all-state golfer and member of the Lady Bulldog basketball team. A 2005 Montana Tech alumna, Jensen played two years of collegiate volleyball and golfed for the Orediggers.
Jensen inherits veteran coach Yvonne Peck's program after Peck resigned last month to pursue an advanced degree at Montana State University.
Jensen, who will teach math at Bigfork in the fall, was hired as an assistant to Peck just a few days before Peck stepped down. Smith called Jensen shortly thereafter, asking if she was interested in the head job.
"I knew right away that I wanted to go for it, but I took the weekend to think about it and make sure that I'd have enough time," Jensen said.
"I felt like I had a pretty good chance. I have a lot of experience, so I was confident going into the interview process."
Smith said Jensen's aplomb showed when she was interviewed as one of three finalists.
"When you sit with Kelsey you immediately see she has a strong passion for volleyball and for the kids," Smith said. "She's got an incredible competitive spirit. It's the first thing you notice.
"She clearly communicated her plans and her coaching ideas, and they're quality ideas. There's no question in her mind."
Jensen has been groomed by outstanding mentors since she played under Whitefish head coach Jackie Fuller. Peck was Whitefish's JV coach at that time, and Jensen learned plenty from her as well.
"I'm 100 percent confident that I can do the job," Jensen said. "I know the game really well."
The Valkyries went undefeated at home under Peck in 2004 and reached the Class A state tournament a year later, but Jensen will utilize her own style.
"You can't go in and model yourself after any one specific coach," Jensen said. "But at the same time, (Peck has) been awesome. She's going to be there for any sort of support that I need."
According to Jensen, her youth will help her relate to players as she clearly remembers which aspects of volleyball she struggled with in high school. She also knows the Northwestern A conference and Flathead Valley inside and out.
"Most of the coaches are still there that I was playing against, so I know a lot of people in the conference," she said. "I was born and raised in Whitefish, so I've been in the Flathead Valley my whole life."
Jensen met with her players for the first time Wednesday. She won't know whether a 5-1 or a 6-2 offense favors the Valkyries until she sees them on the court, but she is partial to fast play with low, quick ball movement.
"I'm excited to get started with the season and get in the gym with the girls," she said. "So far I've had amazing support from the teaching staff and everybody in Bigfork. I hope they all come out and support us this season."