Furman University Women's Volleyball

Braun has joined the Furman volleyball staff in July 2015 as an assistant coach.  Braun was a four-year standout for the Paladins, guiding Furman to an 88-35 record in her career (2009-2012). The Paladins twice reached the SoCon Tournament finals while Braun was a member and finished her freshman season with a 16-0 SoCon record. The Lincoln, Neb., native amassed 1,183 career kills and 1,453 career digs, making her the ninth player in Furman history to join the 1,000 kills/digs club. Braun was the team MVP in 2012 and was twice named to the All-Southern Conference team. Braun graduated from Furman in May of 2013. In December of 2014, Braun received her Master's in Education (Higher Education Leadership) from Mercer University, where she played one season of sand volleyball for the Bears. As the #1 seed, Braun was named First Team All-Atlantic Sun, as well as being named to the ASun All-Tournament team. After her year of sand volleyball, Braun served as a graduate assistant for the Bears' indoor volleyball team.

Michelle Young, the winningest coach in Paladin volleyball history, is entering her 26th season at Furman. A five-time Southern Conference Coach of the Year honoree, Young has coached four league Players of the Year, three Freshmen of the Year, and two tournament MVP selections. She has led Furman to two NCAA Tournaments, two SoCon regular season and tournament championships, and one SoCon division championship. The Paladins also have five additional SoCon tournament championship game appearances in 2000, 2009, 2012, 2014, and 2022. Throughout her career, Young has amassed a 419-329 overall record and 259-162 mark against league opponents. Young earned her 400th career victory on September 23, 2023, when the Paladins rallied back for a 3-2 win at East Tennessee State. Furman posted a six-win improvement in 2023 after finishing 17-11 overall and 8-8 in the SoCon. Mary Beth Headley was a second team All-SoCon selection while Izzy Castelloe, Emily Navarro, and Lindsay Walch all earned spots on the All-Freshman Team. Despite finishing tied for seventh in the SoCon standings in 2022, Young helped lead Furman to its first tournament championship appearance in eight years. The Paladins reeled off three consecutive wins in the SoCon tournament, highlighted by a four-set victory over top-seeded East Tennessee State, to advance to the championship, which was played at Timmons Arena. The Paladins recorded a season-best five straight wins, three in the tournament and two in the regular season, before falling to Samford in the championship match. Young led the Paladins in a complete turnaround following a disappointing 2016 season, finishing 2017 at 21-10 and 14-2 in SoCon play, good for the Paladins' fourth regular season championship and third under Young. She also picked up her fifth SoCon Coach of the Year honor.    She steered the Paladins to a 23-7 overall record, 14-2 SoCon mark and regular season championship in 2014, while leading the Paladins to a conference tournament championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2015.   Young recorded back-to-back SoCon Coach of the Year honors in 2013 and 2014, while leading her team to a tournament semifinal in 2013 and championship appearance in 2014.   After a third-place finish in the South Division, Young guided the Paladins to a 2012 SoCon tournament championship appearance, before falling to College of Charleston in their last season with the SoCon.   She picked up her 200th win during the 2010 campaign, while finishing with a 17-12 record, making her the winningest coach in Paladin volleyball history.    Young led the team to a perfect 16-0 regular season mark in the SoCon during the 2009 season. For her efforts, she was chosen the 2009 SoCon Coach of the Year, an honor she also received in 2006. Furman also put together a 19-match winning streak during the 2009 season, the longest in Paladin volleyball history, and was undefeated in regular season league competition for the first time in Furman history.   The team’s 26 wins were the most for a Paladin volleyball team since 1996, when Furman also posted 26 wins. The Paladins earned a 49th place RPI rating, the highest in the history of Furman volleyball, and were the top rated SoCon team in the poll.    Young’s progress in taking the team to a higher level began in 2008, when she led the Paladins to the SoCon Tournament title and first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.   She attributes the Paladins’ success in the league to the team’s rigorous non-conference schedule. Under her direction, Furman has had its first win against a Big 12 opponent with a 3-2 win over Colorado in 2007. The Paladins also recorded their first win over Clemson the same season. During the 2011 season, Furman notched a 3-1 victory over Wisconsin, the first win over a Big 10 opponent by any SoCon volleyball team. In 2012, the Paladins defeated two ACC opponents (Clemson, Wake Forest) in the same season for the first time in program history. Furman’s win over Clemson was the Paladins’ first over the Tigers in Greenville in the history of the series. Furman then tallied comeback, five-set wins over Clemson and South Carolina in 2014, before defeating Gonzaga later in the year. Young took over the Furman volleyball program as a 23-year-old in 2000 after spending just one year as an assistant coach for the Paladins. In her first year as the head coach, the team won 15 league matches and appeared in the SoCon tournament championship game, establishing Young’s position as one of the top young coaches in the sport. A 1998 graduate of Clemson University with a degree in industrial education, Young was a four-year letterwinner at setter for the Tigers. She still holds the Clemson single season record for assists, with 1,561, and the career mark, with 4,305. In addition, she was selected Most Valuable Player at the 1997 ACC Tournament after leading the Tigers to the league title and the second NCAA Tournament of her tenure. Young also was lauded as second team All-ACC in 1995 and was named to the 1995 AVCA All-District Team. In addition, in 2002, Young was named to the ACC’s 50th anniversary volleyball squad.   Young is a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).   A native of Chatfield, Minn., the former Michelle Thieke married Will Young on June 27, 1998. The couple has three children: Brody, Bailey and Bella.

Chad Callihan is in his third season as associate head coach with the Furman volleyball program. Callihan came to Greenville in 2023 and helped guide the program to a six-win improvement as Furman posted a 17-11 overall record and 8-8 mark in the Southern Conference, finishing fifth in the regular season standings. Mary Beth Headley was a second team All-SoCon pick while Izzy Castelloe, Emily Navarro, and Lindsay Walch earned spots on the All-Freshman Team. He previously spent 10 seasons as head coach at Wyoming and amassed five 20-win seasons. In 21 seasons as a head coach, Callihan compiled a 405-250 overall record with stops at Wyoming, former SoCon members Georgia Southern and Appalachian State, and Radford. Callihan is the all-time wins leader at Wyoming and led the Cowgirls to three consecutive National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) appearances in 2017, 2018, and 2019. He coached 23 Mountain West All-Conference performers and three Freshmen of the Year honorees. Callihan guided Wyoming to three straight 20-win campaigns to begin his tenure highlighted by a 23-7 mark in 2015, the second-best winning percentage in program history (.767), and its first AVCA ranking since 1994. The Cowgirls posted a program-best 16 league wins in 2019. He joined Wyoming after spending five seasons as head coach at Georgia Southern. Callihan led the Eagles to three 20-win seasons during his time while posting a 107-59 overall record and 59-23 league mark. A total of 19 players earned All-SoCon honors. Callihan spent the 2007 season as an assistant coach at Georgia and, from 2003-06, was the head coach at Appalachian State. He registered an 88-44 overall record and was 57-13 against conference opponents with the Mountaineers. Callihan was named the 2004 SoCon Coach of the Year and led the program to two SoCon North Division championships (2003-04), two regular season runner-up finishes and two appearances in the SoCon Tournament championship in 2004 and 2005. Prior to his time at Appalachian State, Callihan worked for four years at Radford, including the last two as head coach. He led the Highlanders to a Big South regular season championship in 2001 after going 24-7 which was highlighted by 23 consecutive wins that season, the longest in the nation, and finished a perfect 14-0 in conference play. As an assistant at Radford, the program captured two Big South championships and a berth in the 2000 NCAA Tournament. He served as head coach for three seasons at Radford High School in Radford, Va., leading the team to its first regional appearance in 13 years and earned District Coach of the Year honors. His coaching experience also includes coaching the Yokota Air Base women’s volleyball team in Japan during his four years in the United States Air Force. A member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and USA Volleyball, Callihan has worked throughout his career with Special Olympics and setting up free volleyball clinics. Callihan and his wife Jessica are the parents of two sons, Caleb and Macoy.

Kelly (Kirby) Picardi is in her sixth season as an assistant coach with the Furman volleyball program. Picardi works with all aspects of the program including player training and development, program development, operations, and alumni relations. A native of Greenville, Picardi was a four-year letterwinner and two-year captain for the Paladins from 2008-11. As a setter and right side/outside hitter, Picardi was part of the 2008 team that won the SoCon Tournament championship and made the program's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. She also played on the 2009 squad that went 16-0 in league play and captured the SoCon South Division Championship. Picardi appeared in 116 matches throughout her career and was a first team All-SoCon selection in 2010 and 2011, and second team in 2009. She finished with 1,364 assists, 973 digs, 971 kills and 206 total blocks. Picardi was named SoCon Player of the Week three times and earned SoCon Player of the Month honors in October of 2009, and was awarded the C. Dan Joyner Award for leadership. Following her graduation from Furman, Picardi worked in the Furman athletic department on the game operations staff. She also worked as a color commentator for the SoCon Digital Network and at the SoCon Volleyball Championship. She coached three seasons at The Madeira School in McLean, Va., while serving as assistant athletic director, and led the program to the Independent School League Championship. In 2019, she coached at South Lakes High School and guided the team to its highest finish in the state tournament in school history. Picardi coached the Virginia Elite Volleyball Club for three seasons. Picardi graduated from Hillcrest High School where she is a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame and has her jersey retired. A three-time all-state selection, she helped lead Hillcrest to its first and second state championships. She earned her bachelor’s degree in health sciences from Furman in 2012. Picardi and her husband Rob, a 2013 graduate of Furman, have two daughters, Ada and Willow, and one son, Asher.