Former University of North Florida volleyball player Kailey McKnight has joined the athletics department as an assistant volleyball coach.
McKnight was announced as a new assistant coach on May 14 on the North Florida Athletics website. McKnight played for the Ospreys during the 2021-2025 seasons, ranking eighth in program history with over 3,000 attacks. McKnight joins the volleyball coaching staff alongside Head Coach Abby Gilleland, Assistant Coach J.T. Deppe, and Assistant Coach Ryan Floyd to form a completely new team of coaches for the next season.
According to the UNF Athletics website, McKnight looks forward to giving back to the volleyball program in the same way others did for her.
“While coaching is a different perspective, my passion for this program hasn’t changed,” said McKnight.
Having played with the Ospreys since her freshman year, McKnight explained that what kept her at North Florida was the team.
“Every year my team is a little bit different, but they’re so kind,” said McKnight. “…I never took what I had for granted, and I’ve always just loved the people here.”
McKnight was a statistical leader this past season with 242 kills, 240 digs, and 18 service aces. McKnight describes her competitiveness as a core quality that drove her to aim for that success. McKnight said that her competitiveness is also one of her strengths as a coach, as well as her trust in her former teammates.
“I come off super smiley, but when I’m on the court, my mindset just goes to a different place, so I’m really excited to pour my competitive brain into other people,” said McKnight.
McKnight describes her relationship with the new coaching staff as positive. McKnight says that her relationship with Associate Athletic Trainer Katie DeLost, whom she worked with as a player and relied on when injured, remains strong.
“I’ve known Katie so long, so now we get to be more friends and like that professional relationship,” said McKnight.
McKnight initially did gymnastics growing up until she switched to volleyball in 4th grade. She began to take volleyball more seriously in high school with the encouragement of her family, setting the St. Lucie West Centennial High School record for kills.
“My family is the biggest support. I probably continued to play volleyball because they saw the potential in me,” said McKnight. “When you’re young, you just think things are fun, but they knew how far I could take it and how good I could be.”
In her Collegiate career, McKnight played with the Ospreys until she was injured in 2024. She returned to play in 2025, posting a career-high 24 kills in North Florida’s home Rivercity Rumble Match and earning an ASUN All-Tournament Team selection
McKnight has experience coaching at volleyball camps and clubs. Before being hired as an assistant coach, McKnight volunteered with the new North Florida coaching staff in the spring.
McKnight said that she has considered making a long-term career out of coaching volleyball, saying that her passions still lie with the sport.
“I would love to coach for a long time and just grow my knowledge because coaching knowledge is much different knowledge than players’ knowledge, so I’m really excited to develop that part of me,” said McKnight
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