Steve Shondell isn't going anywhere.
Only days before the two-year anniversary of his hiring as the Ball State women's volleyball coach, Shondell confirmed in an interview Tuesday that he plans to stay on as coach past his current contract, which expires next January.
"I know I'm not going to go anywhere else," Shondell said. "This is where I'm going to end my career, at Ball State. I'd like to continue to coach here until I feel like the time is right or they ask me to leave."
Shondell most recently led Ball State to its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2002, making 2011 on one of the best seasons in program history.
With over 30 years of coaching experience as the former girl's volleyball coach at Burris Laboratory School, the length of his tenure at Ball State when he was hired was questionable.
Ball State announced Shondell had been hired as the women's volleyball coach on April 13, 2010, leading to him signing a three-year contract on April 23, 2010. The contract expires in less than a year, on Jan. 31, 2013.
Shondell mentioned several times that he is on a "one year at a time" schedule when it comes to his retirement.
But for someone who loves volleyball as much as he does, that year won't come soon.
"I'll probably continue to do this as long I enjoy what I'm doing," Shondell said. "Once you quit enjoying it, it's time to move on."
In only two years as coach, Shondell has rebuilt the women's volleyball team into one of the most successful teams at Ball State.
The Cardinals are 49-13 in the last two seasons after going a combined 44-80 in four seasons before that.
Most importantly, the current group of players love playing for Shondell just as much as he loves coaching them.
"I love Steve," freshman Kelly Hopkins said. "He's the main reason I came here. He has a great relationship with all of us, he's very positive and he gives us all a lot of confidence, which helps a lot."
Hopkins won't have to worry. Shondell's goal is to continue to build Ball State into a perennial winner in women's volleyball.
That goal extends beyond next year.
"I really like my players. [I] love the university. I couldn't see myself ending my career anywhere else," Shondell said. "This has been my life here at Ball State. It's a great place to be."
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