The Official Athletics Site of the Fresno Pacific University Sunbirds

Assistant Volleyball Coach Kelly Winter is no stranger to Sunbird success.  The 2009 FPU Hall of Fame inductee was named an NAIA All-American five times as a volleyball player and track & field athlete from 1997 – 2001.  She is a former GSAC Player of the Year and is the program's all-time leader in assists with 5,139.

Winter served as FPU Head Volleyball Coach from 2011 - 2014 and posted an overall record of 81-37 before stepping down to pursue a full-time teaching career.  In her second season at the reins, Winter guided the Sunbirds to a 28-4 record and national top 10 ranking in FPU's first year competing in NCAA Division II.  The Sunbirds were the only transitioning program in any sport to crack the NCAA national top 10.

Prior to serving as Head Coach, she was the Sunbirds' assistant coach for five seasons and helped the team compile a 183-10 record and two NAIA national championships.  Winter has also coached at Fresno City College, Elite Beach Volleyball Club, and Valley Volleyball Academy.

Winter has been a full-time math instructor at Reedley College since 2015 and holds both master’s and bachelor’s degrees in mathematics from FPU.  Her husband Ray is a FPU professor, faculty member, and the former Director of the Track & Field and Cross Country programs.  They live in Fresno with their three children.


Kelly (Watney) Winter – FPU Athletic Accomplishments:

• Played in 496 games (sets) for the Sunbirds from 1997-2000
• Fresno Pacific Hall of Fame inductee (2009)
• Volleyball - NAIA All-American (1998, 1999, 2000)
• Volleyball - GSAC player of the year (2000)
• Volleyball - All-GSAC team (1998, 1999, 2000)
• Track & Field – NAIA All-American (Javelin, 4th place, 2001)
• Track & Field – NAIA Honorable Mention All-American (Javelin, 2000)
• Track & Field - GSAC Heptathlon Champion (2001)
• Track & Field – Team MVP (1999)
• NAIA All-America Scholar Athlete team (1999, 2000, 2001)
• Volleyball - 15-time GSAC setter of the week, 2-time NAIA setter of the week
• Led FPU to two GSAC titles, three NAIA Region II titles and the 1999 national title match
• 5,139 career assists (1st all-time)
• 14.39 assists per set (1st all-time)
• 239 career service aces (2nd all-time)
• 1,177 career digs (8th all-time)
• Fresno Pacific University “Sunbird of the Year” (2001)
• FPU Senior of the Year (2001)
• FPU Freshman of the Year (1998)