DiShondra Goree

DiShondra Goree is in her third season as the head women's volleyball coach at Kentucky State University. 

In the 2019 season, the Thorobred volleyball program was 25-14 overall and 16-2 in the SIAC conference. Robin Poole was named first-team all-conference as an outside hitter for the second consecutive season. Tapanga Moten and Oyuky Benitez both earned second team All-SIAC honors as a middle hitter and libero, respectively. Moten and Poole earned SIAC All-tournament team nods. 

The Thorobreds ended their season as the 2019 SIAC Runner-ups for the seccond consecutive season.

In her first season at Kentucky State, the Thorobreds concluded their season at 23-22 overall and 14-3 in the SIAC. The team participated in the 2018 SIAC postseason tournament as the second seed in the Western Division. Three players earned SIAC all-conference honors. Sophomore Robin Poole earned All-SIAC first team honors as an outside hitter, while teammates Arlandria Greathouse and Alliyah Williams both earned All-SIAC second team honors as a middle blocker and as a libero. Poole, Williams, and Greathouse all received SIAC All-tournament team awards as KSU volleyball concluded their season as 2018 SIAC Conference Runner-ups.

She came to Frankfort after four seasons at her alma mater, Shaw University. A three-time CIAA Coach of the Year, Goree led the Bears to their first conference championship in 21 years when Shaw accomplished the feat in 2016.

The conference title completed a three-year transformation from a team that finished 1-19 in her first season. In the aforementioned championship season, the Bears claimed the 2016 CIAA Volleyball Championship and posted a 15-1 conference record. They broke a program record with a 14-match winning streak, eclipsing the previous record of 12. Additionally, the Bears’ volleyball squad were the first team in program history to earn an automatic bid to participate in the NCAA Regional Tournament.

During her tenure with Shaw, eight of Goree’s players earned All-CIAA recognitions with another player being named CIAA Tournament MVP. Not only does Goree’s players excel on the court, but one of her student-athletes was named CIAA Female Scholar Student-Athlete of the Year.

A native of Fort Wayne, IN, Goree was a three-sport athlete in high school, participating in volleyball, basketball and softball for all four years at Paul Harding High School. Her senior year, she was voted Female-Athlete of the Year.

Goree received her Bachelor's Degree in Business Management with a Recreation minor from Shaw in 2004. She graduated Cum Laude with a 3.45 GPA. While at Shaw, she made the Dean’s list and President’s list three semesters & two semesters, respectively. In 2008, Goree received her Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of St. Francis located in Fort Wayne, IN. Goree has also completed one year of coursework towards her Doctorate degree in Organizational Leadership at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, IN.

After college, Goree served as head volleyball coach and assistant softball coach at both South Side High School as well as Paul Harding High School for a combined six seasons. She has facilitated & coordinated several volleyball clinics for middle-school and high school students.
 
Year School Record Accomplishments
2014 Shaw 1-19 overall, 0-16 CIAA
2015 Shaw 21-12 overall, 12-4 CIAA Coach of the Year, CIAA Runners Up
2016 Shaw 22-8 overall, 15-1 CIAA Coach of the Year, CIAA Champions
2017 Shaw 27-5 overall, 15-1 CIAA Coach of the Year, CIAA Runners Up
2018 Kentucky State 23-22 overall, 14-3 SIAC SIAC Runners Up
2019 Kentucky State 25-14 overall, 16-2 SIAC SIAC Runners Up
6 years 119-80 overall