Shaw Selected to Lead Forester Men’s Volleyball into Varsity Era
HUNTINGTON, Ind. – Huntington University has announced the hiring of Ken Shaw as the head coach of its men's volleyball program, marking a significant step forward as the Foresters prepare for their inaugural varsity season in fall 2026.
After two years competing at the club level, men's volleyball will officially transition to varsity status, with Huntington set to be one of six Crossroads League institutions sponsoring the sport at the NAIA level.
"I'm incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to coach the inaugural men's NAIA volleyball program at Huntington University," said Shaw. "My passion is to build a culture where talented young men can grow as athletes, students and followers of Christ while pursuing excellence on and off the court."
Shaw arrives in Huntington following a two-year stint as an assistant coach at UC Merced, an NCAA Division II program, where he helped guide the Bobcats to their first-ever national tournament appearance.
During his tenure, the program also joined the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, elevating its competitive profile among intercollegiate Olympic sports.
Prior to his time at UC Merced, Shaw built an impressive résumé at Stone Ridge Christian High School, leading both the boys and girls volleyball programs to sustained success. Over 26 combined seasons — including 19 with the girls' program — he amassed 448 wins and guided his teams to 26 playoff appearances.
Shaw's tenure at Stone Ridge was highlighted by back-to-back NORCAL CIF Division VI Girls Volleyball State Championships in 2018 and 2019, efforts that also earned him consecutive Merced Sun-Star Female Volleyball Coach of the Year honors. On the boys' side, he led the Knights to three straight undefeated league seasons from 2017-19 and was named league coach of the year a combined 16 times across both programs.
In addition to his indoor success, Shaw has been heavily involved in beach volleyball throughout California's Central Valley, serving as Director and Head of Operations at Knights Beach Courts while also coaching with Triumph Volleyball Academy.
"We are excited to welcome Ken as our new men's volleyball head coach," said Huntington University Director of Athletics Lori Culler. "He brings not only exceptional coaching experience but also a deep commitment to mentoring our athletes in both their athletic and spiritual growth. His leadership will be instrumental in building a competitive program grounded in character and faith as the program transitions from club to competing within the Crossroads League and NAIA.
"We also want to express our deep gratitude to Coach Vanover for the time, energy, and leadership he invested in launching our club program. His work has established a strong foundation that has positioned us well for a smooth transition to varsity status."
In addition to serving as the men's volleyball coach, Shaw will also direct intramurals and assist with game day management. He earned his bachelor's degree in education and kinesiology from Azusa Pacific University.
The Huntington University Foresters compete in 18 intercollegiate sports for men and women. In the past decade, Huntington has produced 181 NAIA All-America honors and 631 All-America Scholar Athlete honors. Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. Huntington has a top quartile ranking in the 2026 U.S. News Best Regional Universities Midwest Rankings.