COEUR d'ALENE - Former Montana assistant coach Kandice Kelly has hit the ground running in her first week after being named volleyball coach at North Idaho College - the program's third coach in three seasons.

After four days of practice and conditioning with the returning players and departing sophomores, Kelly is headed to Las Vegas today for four days of recruiting at a tournament there.

"I'm ecstatic; I can't wait," Kelly said. "They're working hard. They want to be good and that's great."

Kelly, 26, replaces Colleen Frohlich, who resigned in December after one season because her husband accepted a job in Arizona.

Kelly heard about the NIC job from Frohlich, who used to coach at Montana, and from Jerry Wagner, who recruited her to Montana State, then brought her with him to Montana as an assistant coach.

Kelly and her mom, Laurie Kelly, coach at Rocky Mountain College, have run coaching camps and clinics together.

"I've had great mentors in Jerry Wagner and my mom," Kelly said. "I'm lucky I got to learn under some great coaches. Offensively, I want to run a quicker offense, and on defense, I can guarantee the girls are going to hate me all spring because we're going to work on defense, defense, defense. We can't run a quick offense if we can't pass."

NIC has six returning players from last year's team. No players were signed prior to Kelly's arrival, so she has eight more roster spots to fill.

NIC placed fifth at nationals last year - the program's fourth trip to nationals in the past seven seasons.

"I'm a competitive person, so I'm up to the challenge," Kelly said.

Kelly was the 2002 Montana Gatorade Girls Volleyball Player of the Year and led Roundup High to four Class B state titles while starring for the Panthers as a setter and outside hitter. She was named most valuable player of the state volleyball tournament for three years and was also a three-time all-state basketball selection and four-time academic all-state honoree in high school.

Kelly played libero for four years at Montana State (2003-06), and is the MSU single-season (495) and career (1,720) leader in digs. An honorable mention all-Big Sky selection as a senior in 2006, Kelly ranks second in Big Sky Conference history in career digs.

Kelly was an assistant coach at Montana from 2007-10. She was one of eight NCAA Division I coaches to receive the American Volleyball Coaching Association 30 Under 30 Award, which recognizes the up and coming successful coaches under 30 years of age.

"She is energetic and truly has a passion for coaching volleyball at this level," NIC athletic director Al Williams said. "I believe she has the talent to maintain our volleyball program at the level of success we have enjoyed amongst the NJCAA elite."