Brandon Stephenson has been the men's volleyball coach at Kansas Wesleyan since February 2026.
He comes to KWU as men's volleyball coach while also teaching and coaching girls' volleyball at Salina Central High School.
After a tough rebuilding season in year one at Central, the Lady Mustangs started off the year off in dominating fashion in year two under Coach Stephenson’s leadership, the Lady Mustangs go 5-0 winning the Wichita North Tournament. The Lady Mustangs ended their regular season schedule just like they started the season going 5-0 at the Abilene tournament and putting them in the 7th seed of the KSHSAA 5A West Sub-state tournament. Stephenson led the Lady Mustangs to their first winning season and 20 wins in a season since 2012. They also knocked off their cross town rivals for the first time since 2017.
Brandon Stephenson was named the Salina Central High School volleyball head coach in Feb. 2024, after being the freshman coach the previous season. Having a team of young players with little varsity experience, the Lady Mustangs struggled at times. As the season went on, the growth of the team was evident. Three players made the All-League teams and the team won the KVA team academic award. Nine players won academic honors.
The program has also seen emphasis in the classroom with the team winning the KVA team academic award the last two seasons and 15 players winning academic honors. The 2025 season was capped with the Lady Mustangs ending their season with a 24 win total and having 6 players on the All-League teams.
Stephenson comes to central after time in the college ranks. His last stop before joining the Central staff came at Cameron University. Where he led the Aggies for four seasons from 2019-2022.
Prior to coming to CU, Stephenson spent three seasons at Barton Community College. In his third season leading the Cougar Volleyball program, the Cougars posted a 22-15 overall record with a 11-5 conference record. That put them in third place in the conference. Off the court the program saw success in the classroom for the third season with a team GPA over 3.7. The 3.73 team GPA was second in the Conference and National. The program had 5 players that were Academic All-Americans. The program had four members make All-Conference/Region honors.
The Cougars concluded the 2017 season fifth in the Jayhawk West at 8-8, having the season end in the Region VI playoffs to finish the year at 18-18 overall which included ten losses to ranked opponents.
In the classroom the Cougars wore the runner-up crown in 2016 but this academic season captured the national title, beating out 108 other schools over a 3.0 GPA with a stellar 3.78 GPA. Eight Cougars earned NJCAA All-Academic honors recognizing student-athletes achieving a 3.6 GPA or better, with three individuals earning a perfect 4.0.
On the court four Cougars earned post-season awards, led by two-time All-Jayhawk West/All-Region VI Division I first team selection Carol Goncalves. Wrapping up her Barton career 10th all-time in assists, Goncalves ranked fourth best in the region with 7.47 assists per set despite the Cougars running a 6-2 offense. Also repeating post-season honors, Monique Oliveira landed on the conference first team and second team of the all-region selections. Earning 2nd team conference honors, freshman Laine Alves Conceicao was joined by sophomore Averie Warehime’s honorable mention honors to round out the post season awards.
In his first season at the helm, Stephenson led the Cougars to a 24-10 season, 10-6 in the Jayhawk West, and a trip to the Region VI final four. Goncalves and Oliveira led the post season selections with first team All-Jayhawk West/All-Region VI Division I honors with Nathalia Gouveia and Olivia Naccarato earning second team selections.
The 2016 team’s success in the classroom produced 10 players receiving KJCCC All-Academic Team honors with seven achieving NJCAA All- Academic Team distinction. The top Division I academic team in the NJCAA, the Cougars finished second highest in volleyball amongst the entire NJCAA with a 3.83 GPA. The team concluded their academic awards being named to the Honor Roll, honoring the top five academic achievements, by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).
Compiling a 48-64 record in his three seasons at Lamar, Stephenson’s accomplishments included victories over rivals and success in the classroom in producing nine players being named to the Region IX Academic All-Region with one player named to the NJCAA academic list. Off the court, the team grade point average improved each year under his direction with the 2014-15 team having the 41st highest GPA amongst NJCAA D1 volleyball programs and wining the AVCA team award with a 3.31 GPA.
Prior to Lamar, Stephenson was the assistant coach and wellness center assistant at Highland Community College. Under Stephenson’s leadership, the Lady Scotties saw success on the court with several double digit match totals in both blocks and kills while off the court seeing the largest group of Lady Scotties of ten players receiving the conference academic award.
In 2011, Stephenson was the assistant volleyball coach at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas. While there, he handled the teams conditioning, recruiting, and was in charge of the defense and setters. During that year, the team knocked off three ranked teams for the first time in program history.
Stephenson has also spent time at two NAIA school in Kansas, Bethany College and McPherson College, where he was a volunteer volleyball coach and recruiting coordinator.
Stephenson graduated from Salina Central High School in Salina, Kansas, in 2002 where he earned All-Class 5A and All-State Top 11 offensive lineman honors. Taking his ability to the collegiate level, Stephenson attended Coffeyville Community College becoming a two-time all-conference offensive lineman and was named a pre-season All-American his sophomore season. After Coffeyville, Stephenson attended the University of Nebraska-Kearney where injuries sidelined his playing career and later transferred to McPherson College.
While at McPherson, Stephenson became the student coach for the volleyball team and was in charge of the strength program. After two seasons, Stephenson transferred to Kansas Wesleyan University, where he graduated with a degree in physical education and minors in secondary health and coaching. Stephenson received his master’s in Recreation and Sport Science from Ohio University in spring 2013.
He has also coached 15U-18U club volleyball teams in Kansas from 2005 through 2008.
