Dr. Don Shondell, ‘Godfather of Volleyball in Midwest’, Dies at 92

MUNCIE, Ind. — Some call him “The Godfather of Volleyball in the Midwest.” Others simply referred to him as “The GOAT.”

If you know the sport of volleyball in Indiana, you know the name “Shondell.” The entire family has left a mark by coaching at the high school or college level. But it all started with Dr. Don Shondell, who died from COVID-19 Tuesday night at the age of 92.

After he graduated from Ball State University in 1956, Shondell created the first men’s club volleyball team at the school. He spent the next four years advocating for it to become a varsity sport. From 1964 to 1998, Shondell won 769 matches — the second-most wins in NCAA men’s volleyball history, and the most by any Ball State coach in any sport. He also won 19 Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association regular season titles, 12 MIVA tournament championships, and went to the NCAA tournament 13 times.

“Because of Don Shondell’s accomplishments and leadership in volleyball, Ball State is recognized as a leader in the sport,” his son, Dave, said in 2018, when the university opened the new Dr. Don Shondell Practice Center.

Dave Shondell is the women’s volleyball head coach at Purdue University. His brother, John, is his assistant. Don’s third son, Steve Shondell, won more than 1,000 volleyball matches in his coaching career at Muncie Burris, before becoming the women’s volleyball head coach at Ball State for nearly a decade.

The coaching tree that branches from Dr. Don Shondell doesn’t stop at just his three sons, or even a few of his grandchildren. Dozens of his former players at Ball State are now coaching, including Craig Skinner and Kelly Sheffield, two of the coaches in last year’s NCAA women’s volleyball Final Four.

Even after retiring from coaching full-time at the collegiate level, Dr. Don Shondell still taught the sport around Indiana, the Midwest and the country.

“Dad will be remembered for a long time for his efforts to promote the sport of volleyball – now the most popular team sport for women and fastest growing game for men,” Dave Shondell wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday. “He’s truly a pioneer of America’s Game.”

Shondell says the family will have a private burial will be next week, and a “celebration of life” will be held in early 2022.