Matt Kuelpman - Women's Volleyball Coach - Weber State University Athletics

Matt Kuelpman

Title:
Assistant Coach

Matt Kuelpman joined the Weber State coaching staff in April 2019. From the time he joined Weber State up until the winter of 2021, his on-court responsibilities included coaching the back row defense and coordinating the offense during matches. Currently, Kuelpman coaches the team's blocking, serving, and defensive strategies, and oversees the team's travel, camps, and splits recruiting coordinator duties with Sammi Stuart.

In his first season at Weber State he made considerable improvements in the area’s of responsibility on the court. Defensively, Weber State improved from 15.43 digs per set to 16.61 in 2019 which helped the Wildcats leap from eighth in the Big Sky to second and 41st nationally. Weber State's 2,209 total digs in 2019 was good enough for sixth in the nation, first in the Big Sky, and best total in the history of the program.

Offensively, Kuelpman helped the Wildcats improve their kills per set from 12.78 to 13.14 which was second best in the Big Sky. WSU’s hitting percentage in 2019 increased to .240 which moved the Wildcats from fourth to first in the Big Sky. The Wildcats 1,747 kills ranked them #11 in the nation and second in the conference. Weber State was also ranked 10th nationally in assists and second in the Big Sky.

Kuelpman helped the Wildcats to the Big Sky championship game for the first time in 31 years, and second time in program history. In 2019, the Wildcats earned a berth in the NIVC tournament where they made it to the quarterfinals after beating Boise State, and Wyoming in Laramie, WY. Weber State’s 26-9 record in 2019 was the second most wins in school history and the best season since 1988. Kuelpman was also vital in the development of the 2019 Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year, Dani Nay.

In 2020, Kuelpman played a crucial role in guiding Weber State to its best season in school history. The 'Cats finished the regular season with a 15-1 record and won the school's first-ever Big Sky Conference regular season championship. Their torrid run through conference play continued in the Big Sky tournament where Weber State beat the host Northern Colorado to clinch the school's first conference tournament championship since 1988.

After advancing to the NCAA tournament, WSU beat the MAC champion Bowling Green Falcons in four sets. It was the first NCAA tournament win in WSU history, and the first Big Sky Conference win in the big dance since 2007. The Wildcats finished the season with the best kill percentage (.241) and most kills per set (13.4) in the Big Sky Conference. Weber State also had its first two All-Americans in program history in Rylin Adams and Nay, Adams was tabbed as the conference's MVP.

After going 13-3 in conference play in 2021, the Wildcats repeated as Big Sky regular-season champions. From 2019, Kuelpman's first season at WSU, through the 2021 season, Weber State won 25 consecutive matches at home which was the longest home winning streak in the nation. Nay was once again named an All-American and the Big Sky Conference MVP, and the Wildcats advanced to the conference championship match.

Weber State finished off the season by hosting, and winning, the first two round of the NIVC and advancing to its second quarterfinal appearance in three seasons. Kuelpman's offense and ability to develop players has been a key cog in what has been a period of unprecedented success for Weber State volleyball.

Before coming to Weber State, Kuelpman served as an assistant coach at Cal Poly where he helped the Mustangs to one of the best seasons in program history. The Mustangs finished the season with a 25-3 record, Big West Champions, and a berth in the NCAA tournament. Cal poly was ranked as high as No. 11 in the AVCA coach’s poll and finished the season at no. 22.

At Cal Poly his primary responsibility was over their blocking system and strategies. Kuelpman helped Cal Poly improve from 1.91 blocks per set and 5th in the Big West to 2.45 blocks per set and first in the Big West.

Before Cal Poly he served as a coach at Harvard-Westlake High School in Multiple capacities from 2016 to July 2018, serving as the boys junior varsity head coach, girls freshman head coach, and varsity scout in addition to being the head boys varsity coach.

From 2015 through July 2018 he was also the Head Coach of Loyola Marymount’s men’s and women’s club volleyball teams. He was also a volunteer assistant for the Lions' NCAA women’s volleyball team in the spring of 2016.

Kuelpman is from Villa Park, California and attended Orange Lutheran High School. After high school he attended Loyola Marymount University where he played on the men’s club volleyball team for four years, serving as captain his senior year. In 2015 he was named LMU Club Sports Male Athlete of the Year, and graduated with bachelors in business administration in 2015.