As setters for the Ball State University men's volleyball team, Dave and John Shondell's job was to control the tempo of the match and to run the offense.
If things go their way this weekend, however, the brothers Shondell will be hoping a nationally-ranked rival Indiana school will utilize its own solid setter play against the Cardinals.
For the first time in their college coaching careers, Dave Shondell, Purdue University's women's volleyball head coach, and John Shondell, his brother's assistant, will return to Ball State this weekend to coach against their alma mater.
"John and I are excited to come back to Muncie," said Dave Shondell, whose Boilermaker team is ranked No. 18 nationally. "I spent 45 years in Muncie - I love it."
John Shondell said coming back to the Ball State campus will provide a time of reflection.
"It may be a little strange when I get back in Ball State," he said. "I'm sure when I get there, it will bring back a lot of great memories of being around the arena."
Playing days at BSU
Wes Lyon remembers his time playing with the Shondell brothers like it was yesterday.
The 1997 Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame inductee and current Muncie Central girl's volleyball coach was on the receiving end of sets from the Shondells since his high school days at the former Muncie Northside High School.
Dave and John's brother, Burris Laboratory School head girl's volleyball coach Steve Shondell, was also a setter for Northside and played for Ball State.
Lyon, who earned All-Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association honors as an outside hitter for the Cardinals four times during his career, said Dave Shondell's intensity on the court made him ideal for the setter position.
"Dave was just really a go-getter and went after everything on the court," Lyon said. "I think he was just a real intense player."
Dave Shondell was a setter for the Ball State men's team from 1977-79 before injuries to his ankles forced him to sit out the rest of his career. He said the popularity of volleyball on campus during his playing days was sky high.
"The greatest thing about the days when I was playing was that volleyball was one of the top two sports on the campus at that point of time," Dave Shondell said. "We were drawing between 3,000 and 6,000 people for every match. Volleyball players were very well respected, and it was a great time to be a volleyball player at Ball State."
The youngest of three, John Shondell was able to take what he had learned from both his brothers and his father, legendary former Ball State men's volleyball coach Don Shondell, to earn Asics All-American honors in 1992.
"I just really enjoyed my teammates," said John Shondell, who was a setter for the Cardinals from 1989-93. "We had a bunch of great guys and team cohesion."
From playing to teaching
After his playing days were done, Dave Shondell decided to begin his coaching career as an assistant to his father at Ball State during the 1980-81 season.
From there, Dave went on to be the head coach at Daleville High School from 1981-88, where his overall record was 167-63.
Shondell then took the head coaching job at Muncie Central High School, where he led his Bearcats to four Indiana Class 4A state titles - including a run of three consecutive championships from 1997-1999 - and posted a 458-52 overall record.
His .891 winning percentage is second best in the history of Indiana high school volleyball - Dave only trails his own brother, Steve, who has guided Burris to 19 Indiana state titles with a .924 winning percentage (1071-88) through the 2007 season.
Muncie Central Athletics Director Tom Jarvis entered his teaching career alongside Dave Shondell and followed him all the way to athletic glory as Bearcats.
"You can't think about Muncie Central volleyball without thinking about Dave Shondell," Jarvis said. "He immediately brought the level of volleyball to a new level of high expectations. He was determined to make the program into a winning program and was very successful in winning four state titles in the short time he was here and several runner-up titles, as well."
Dave Shondell interviewed and was hired as Purdue's head coach in February 2003, and he brought his winning ways to a program that had been struggling in the years prior to his arrival.
The Boilermakers tied for 10th place in the Big Ten standings during Shondell's first season in 2003, but last season Purdue finished third and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight year.
"I remember when he got the job at Purdue, most people didn't want to give a high school coach a chance, but Dave has proven that a high school coach can be successful at the college level," Jarvis said. "His connections are tremendous throughout the volleyball world, not just in the state of Indiana, but throughout the country he probably knows more coaches than anybody else."
John Shondell also experienced success as an Indiana high school volleyball coach before Dave brought him to Purdue as his assistant in 2003.
He took over as Delta High School's volleyball coach in 1989 before moving to assist his brother Steve at Burris from 1990-93. John then moved to New Castle High School, where his career record was 296-87 during nine seasons.
At New Castle, John Shondell was named North Central Conference Volleyball Coach of the Year four times in a dominating conference that also included Muncie Central and its own head coach - Dave Shondell.
John Shondell coached current Ball State junior defensive specialist Rachel Alcorn until her sophomore year of high school when he moved to Purdue.
"He was in charge of the younger program at New Castle when I was there, too, so I played for him from 11 years old through my sophomore year in high school," Alcorn said. "He just taught me so much. He taught the basic foundation of volleyball, and all of my work current ethic came from the hours and time he spent in the gym with me.'
Alcorn said she anticipates her former coach's arrival on campus.
"I'm excited to have him come in and show him how much I've improved," she said.
Spending time in Muncie
Dave Shondell was quick to point out that he has one goal on his agenda when his team steps off the bus in Muncie today.
"Our focus is to make sure our team is prepared to play all three opponents because I have a lot of respect of the coaches from all three of those programs [in the Active Ankle Challenge]," Shondell said. "Unfortunately, you don't have a lot of time to be socializing and looking up old friends. I certainly hope I see a lot of familiar friends, but you're kind of there and before you know it, you're gone."
John Shondell said although his job is to prepare the Boilermakers for victory this weekend, he anticipates getting the chance to see one of his own high school products play, among other activities.
"It will be good to see [Alcorn] play," Shondell said. "It's always nice to see family and friends. ... Some of those people I'm sure will be out at the matches, and that will be great."
Purdue (3-0) plays in Worthen Arena today against Tennessee Tech at 7:30 p.m. before playing Southern Illinois on Saturday at 10 a.m.
The Shondells will then lead the Boilermakers in their match against Ball State on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Shondells
- Dave and John Shondell have each won a national championship as coaches for Munciana. Munciana, an AAU-styled volleyball club for players up until college, was started in 1974 by another Shondell, Steve, brother of Dave and John and current Burris girl's volleyball head coach.
- Dave Shondell was picked as the 2002 "National Coach of the Year" by studentsports.com after his Muncie Central volleyball team went 39-1 and won the Indiana Class 4A state title. His Bearcats were ranked that year as high as No. 2 nationally.
- John Shondell was selected as the Indiana Class 4A Volleyball Coach of the Year after he guided his New Castle High School girl's team to a 34-4 record and ranked as high as No. 2 in the state.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
