Meet Our New Coaches!
Kristie Kendall, Head Volleyball Coach
With a dynamic background spanning military service, education, and leadership, Dr. Kristie Kendall brings a unique and disciplined approach to coaching. Her commitment to player development and lifelong learning is deeply rooted in her experiences as an Army veteran, educator, and mentor.
Dr. Kendall's coaching philosophy is built on discipline, effort, and teamwork—values she instills in her players both on and off the court. She has coached both club and high school volleyball, developing athletes into skilled competitors and confident leaders. She believes that sports serve as a powerful tool for personal and professional development, helping young athletes build resilience, adaptability, and leadership skills.
Dr. Kendall's volleyball career began as a standout varsity player in high school, where she earned numerous accolades. She continued her career at South Carolina State University as a walk-on, gaining valuable collegiate experience that would later shape her coaching approach.
Before stepping into coaching, she served eight years in the U.S. Army as a Korean and Arabic linguist, where she developed exceptional skills in discipline, communication, and strategy—all of which she applies to the volleyball court today. "Discipline, teamwork, and communication are a big part of who I am," Kendall said. Her military background instilled a strong work ethic and leadership philosophy, fueling her ability to inspire and challenge athletes.
"Coaching for me is about more than just winning games. It's about building strong, confident, and resilient leaders," said Kendall. "I believe in pushing my players to be their best, while also making sure they're learning, growing, and enjoying the journey. I'm passionate about education. I have degrees in Business, Executive Leadership, and a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction—so whether it's sports or academics, I'm all about helping students reach their full potential."
A lifelong learner, Dr. Kendall is passionate about education and personal development, both for herself and for those she coaches. She holds:
- Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Finance – Limestone University
- Master of Arts in Executive Leadership – Liberty University
- Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction – Liberty University
Her academic journey has shaped her holistic coaching style, emphasizing not only athletic performance but also critical thinking, continuous learning, and personal growth.
Kendall had lived in Union since 2008 with her husband Erick, and her three children, Erick, Keiara, and Korey.
"I'm excited to be here, and I can't wait to support you—on the court and around campus," said Kendall. "Go Bantams!"
John Mills, Head Women's Soccer Coach
Coach Mills will be restarting the Women's soccer program for the fall of 2025.
Mills comes to us from Denmark Technical College where he was the men's soccer coach for two seasons. Before that he was an assistant coach with the Columbia College women's soccer program for 6 seasons.
Mills also coaches high school soccer. He coaches boys at American Leadership Academy in Lexington. He has coached girls at Richland Northeast and Lexington High Schools. Throughout his time as a high school coach, he has been selected three times to coach in the North/South All-Star Classic Soccer game. He also has been selected as Region Coach of the Year five different times.
Outside of coaching, Mills served in public education for 32 years before retiring in 2019. He has been a Special Education teacher, a Physical Education teacher, an assistant principal and a principal. He loves traveling and has served on short term mission trips to Tanzania, Kazakhstan, Honduras, Turkey and Peru. Ther is nothing like a soccer ball to help you overcome a language barrier.
Mills and his wife, Krisy, have been married since 1988. They have two grown sons, Evan and Adam.
Chayney Welchel, Head Cross Country Coach
Chayney Whelchel is from Mountville, SC. She holds an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Science from Piedmont Technical College, and a bachelor's in PE and Coaching from Erskine College.
"I have had a passion for coaching ever since I was little but was never sure what I wanted to coach until I started running cross country in the 9th grade," said Whelchel. "Since then I knew that I wanted to coach cross country!
A fun fact about Whelchel is that she did competitive dance for 14 years before she started her running career. She also competed in a total of 4 sports during her time at Erskine which included, cross country, indoor track, outdoor track, and competitive dance.
"One of my goals for the upcoming year is to form a strong girls and boys team, and to allow the first ever USC Union cross country team to thrive," she said.