Since taking over as head coach in 2018, Shel DeLisle has orchestrated a remarkable transformation of the Milwaukee Area Technical College Stormers women’s volleyball program. Under her leadership, the team progressed from a 2-18 regular season record in her inaugural year to an impressive 34-6 campaign in 2024–25, highlighted by the 2024 NJCAA Division II Region IV and District A championships. Under her tutelage, the Stormers also made their first-ever appearance in the 2024 NJCAA Division II National Tournament this past winter.
Her incredible efforts this last season earned her 2024 NJCAA Division II District A and Region IV Coach of the Year honors. Throughout her entire tenure with the Stormers, DeLisle has consistently produced all-conference and all-region athletes, as well as academic honorees. Her 2024-25 squad earned 2024–25 NJCAA All-Academic Team of the Year and the 2025 AVCA Team Academic Award.
Outside of coaching at MATC, DeLisle brings extensive national and international coaching experience. She serves as an FIVB international coach for America’s Team, leading junior national teams to competition in Barcelona (2023), Australia (2024), Germany (2025), and soon to be Italy (2026). Furthermore, she is also a longtime coach and leader at Revolution Volleyball Academy (RVA), where she directs both the boys’ volleyball program and the Littles division (ages 10–12), in addition to serving as RVA’s college recruitment coordinator. She has coached players of all ages and genders, developed sand leagues, led positional training, and served as a private instructor and camp coach since becoming a part of the RVA in 2014.
As a mentor, DeLisle has presented at the 2025 AVCA Convention and through AVCA webinars, sharing insights on the “Four Agreements” and designing practice matrices. She holds a Master Coach designation, a Mindset Coaching certification, and has completed USAV CAP III, NFHS, and Badger Region coaching accreditations. She is also a 2025–26 Match Point Mentoring Program participant and has led teams at AAU and USAV Nationals, including guiding an 18U boys' team to a gold bracket finish at the 2023 AAU Nationals. At the high school level, DeLisle previously served as the assistant girls' varsity coach and JV boys’ coach at Kettle Moraine High School, and played a key role in developing the Kettle Moraine Middle School volleyball program.
Back in her playing days, DeLisle was a two-sport athlete at Marquette University, playing as a setter/defensive specialist for the Golden Eagles volleyball team and competing in indoor and outdoor track and field. On the track, DeLisle qualified for nationals in 1985 for the sprint medley relay — an event in which she still holds a top-10 record at MU. At Ozaukee High School, she was a multi-year captain, letter winner, and all-conference athlete in volleyball, basketball, and track. As a high school sprinter, DeLisle earned multiple state qualifications, held conference and school records, and was named Ozaukee High’s Senior Female Athlete of the Year.
In addition to her coaching and athletic achievements, DeLisle brings an array of real-world leadership experience. She was the first female firefighter/paramedic for the Wauwatosa Fire Department in 1998 before officially retiring as an officer in 2016. She holds a bachelor’s degree in interpersonal communication and international affairs from Marquette University, a master’s degree in organizational development and leadership from St. Joseph’s University, and is currently a doctoral candidate in integrative behavioral health at Paracelsus University. She also serves as a faculty member at UW-Oshkosh in Chief Officer and FERM programs and has served as a humanitarian aid team leader and disaster response trainer in both U.S. and international settings.
Her accolades include the U.S. Air Force Civilian Medal of Honor and the Braveheart Award for Humanitarian Work from the International Red Cross. Outside of volleyball, she is a beekeeper, animal rescuer, herbalist, and sound healer.
