Shelton Collier relieved of coaching duties of Omaha Supernovas of Pro Volleyball Federation

(This story has been updated with a news release from the Omaha Supernovas)

Just two games in and with a 1-1 record, the Omaha Supernovas have relieved Shelton Collier of his coaching duties.

In a statement Tuesday morning after this story was posted, the team said in a news release:

Today, the Omaha Supernovas announced head coach Shelton Collier will serve as an Advisor to the Organization, and named assistant coach, Laura “Bird” Kuhn, as the interim Head Coach. Additionally, former Creighton volleyball standout, Jazz Schmidt, joins the Supernovas’ impressive coaching staff as an assistant coach and operations assistant. 

Omaha, which opened the Pro Volleyball Federation inaugural season with a home, five-set loss to Atlanta before a crowd announced as 11,624, came back and swept San Diego last Saturday before a crowd announced at 11,403. Those are the two biggest crowds in the young PVF season.

The Supernovas, picked by the coaches in a preseason poll to win the new league, are home Wednesday for the Las Vegas Thrill.

Collier, 2022 AVCA Hall of Fame Inductee, previously coached at Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech and for the last 20 years of his career at Wingate University. He was hired by the Omaha franchise last May. Kuhn played for him at Georgia Tech. The coaching staff includes John Corbelli and John Xie.

More from the Omaha news release:

“With the Supernovas off to a tremendous start, we need to expand our operations in preparations for our immediate future needs. We are fortunate to have Coach Collier’s experience in moving into this role as Advisor to the Organization,” Supernovas President, Diane Mendenhall, said. “As Head Coach, Shelton has been a vital part of the formation of this team; helping us recruit a world-class roster that Omaha and our state have embraced. He also assembled an extremely talented coaching staff, whose collective skill sets, experience and dynamics, will continue to elevate the momentum in building a championship franchise.” 

This coaching staff expansion comes at a vital time for the Supernovas as the franchise operationalizes the next phase of the organization’s growth. In his new role, Collier will be evaluating players throughout the nation and internationally as Omaha prepares for the upcoming free agency and the Pro Volleyball Federation Draft. With Kuhn serving as interim head coach, a national search is underway for a permanent head coach. 

Collier said, “I am appreciative of the opportunity to have been the head coach for the Supernovas. I am proud of the talented roster we assembled and am very proud of the teams’ development and performance. The players receive tremendous support from the ownership group, the staff, the media, and the incredible fans, and they are well-positioned for a championship run this season and, in the future, as well. I have great confidence and respect for Bird. I am also extremely excited about the short term and long-term success of the Pro Volleyball Federation and am looking forward to seeing this league grow and expand this year and for years to come.” 

On Kuhn, Mendenhall shared, “We are thrilled Coach Kuhn has agreed to step into the interim Head Coach position, allowing us to internally grow the structure of our organization for this next phase. She has been a vital part of our team as our lead Assistant Coach and along with her coaching duties, she has served in the key role as the player relations coach building our tremendous team culture. Her valuable experience as a highly respected head coach and collegiate player has been a vital element in the launch of the Supernovas. Additionally, we have tremendous assistants in place, allowing us the time and opportunity to conduct a national search.”

Kuhn brings valuable leadership experience to the Supernovas as she steps into the new role, serving as the head coach for the Texas A&M volleyball program from 2018-2022. Kuhn was named the 2019 SEC Coach of the Year after leading the Aggies to a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Prior to Texas A&M, Kuhn established herself as one of the top assistants in the country, winning the 2015 AVCA National Assistant of the Year, as the Associate Head Coach at the University of Kansas where she helped the team reach its first Final Four in school history.  

Kuhn shared, “I am beyond grateful for the opportunity Coach Collier has created for me and the mentorship he will continue to provide as we trailblaze the path for our sport. He put his time and talents into building this team and has set this organization up for success.  We have some of the best athletes in the world playing here in Omaha, and we are making history in the United States in this inaugural season of the Pro Volleyball Federation. There are very few times in life that we are able to do something for the first time, and I am pleased to be able to continue supporting this historic effort as interim head coach.” 

Kuhn is assisted by talented, veteran coaches who, together, form one of the top coaching staffs in the Pro Volleyball Federation. Assistant coaches John Xie, John Corbelli and Technical Coordinator Thomas Robson are volleyball veterans with vast international and collegiate experience.  

Additionally, former Creighton star Jazz Schimdt has joined the Supernovas as assistant coach and operations assistant. Schmidt was an All-American opposite and setter during her time at Division II Palm Beach Atlantic University before transferring to Creighton for her final collegiate season in 2022.  

Kuhn said, “Jazz is a natural connector and has seamlessly made her presence felt within this organization.  She has been an absolute joy to have in the gym and will serve as a great player-coach moving forward.  Her energy and insights will only make our organization stronger.” 

Schmidt shared, “I am beyond grateful and honored to have the opportunity to be part of the Supernovas organization in the inaugural pro volleyball season. I have found so much joy in this team from the beginning of Minicamp though Training Camp, and I am excited to continue working with this talented group of athletes and people that we have here in Omaha! Especially as a Bluejay, it is incredibly special to be a part of bringing professional volleyball to Nebraska.” 

Xie has worked with USA Volleyball for more than 20 years and serves as the Director of Operations and Assistant Coach, which includes multiple roles on the gold-medal winning 2020 Tokyo Olympic team. 

Corbelli has been coaching volleyball since 1981 serving as an assistant coach at the University of Nebraska, USA Volleyball and Associate Head Coach at Texas A&M. That also includes a stint as Head Coach for San Jose State University.  

Robson currently serves as the Technical Coordinator for the Supernovas and brings his expertise from his time with the University of Wisconsin Volleyball program, and then leading the NAIA volleyball powerhouse, Viterbo University. 

When Collier was hired, the team had this in a news release:

The Omaha-based team is owned by Jason Derulo, Danny White and Chris Erickson.

Erickson stated, “As a Nebraska Native, I understand the importance of volleyball in our state. We have a responsibility to put an exceptional team on the court and Coach Collier has the passion and experience to deliver on that promise.”

White shared, “Coaches play a critical role in bringing out the best in players and the team. Coach Collier already has an incredible core group of top players who have committed to our Omaha team. We are looking forward to Coach finalizing a phenomenal roster with additional free agents as well as drafting talented collegiate players in November.”