Kelsey Stanley admits that she's been through a wealth of emotions in the past two months.

And some of it has to do with being named coach of the North Idaho College volleyball team last Tuesday at the school's booster club luncheon.

STANLEY AND her husband Keri, the assistant wrestling coach at NIC, welcomed a baby girl in early April.

Now, she's the head Cardinal of the volleyball program.

Volleyball practices begin in early August, with wrestling matches getting started in late October.

"Keri and I talked about it because we knew that it was going to be a life-changing thing," said Stanley of the coaching job. "But Keri has been very supportive. Sometimes, he's going to have to take her and our seasons overlap. We're lucky enough to have family close enough when we're on road trips, we'll have them around. It's going to be hard for me to leave my baby on those long weekends. It's just something every coach with kids has to experience."

Having her husband only a walk across the gym doesn't always mean that they're together, Stanley added.

"It's nice," Stanley said. "Most people think we're together 24/7. We have normal conversations when we're at home, but are busy enough in our offices and practices. Some days, we really don't see each other much. But I really enjoy having him here."

Stanley replaces Myles Kydd, whose contract was not renewed after one season. She was NIC's assistant coach the past two years.

"I was thinking I'd have to be an assistant for at least five years," Stanley said of getting a head coaching job. "I was kind of shocked to have the head coaching job so quickly."

Stanley also served as interim coach after Kandice Gregorak resigned in 2012 and before Kydd was hired.

"I was kind of prepared and had been doing all the recruiting (in 2013)," Stanley said. "I kind of gained confidence through that and knew what I had to do. It didn't help that I was eight months pregnant going through the process this time, but I'm glad it worked out."

NIC was 23-8 in 2012 and finished eighth at nationals. NIC was 17-12 in 2013 and also qualified for nationals, but didn't place.

"I've learned a lot from the past two coaches," Stanley said. "And I've got plenty more to learn. I'm going to learn the hard way, but I'm looking forward to that."

NIC returns four players - Maddi Seidl, Larissa Claassen, Kennedy Chadwick and Brittany Aldridge - from last year's team. After two more seasons in the NJCAA Scenic West Athletic Conference, the Cardinal volleyball program will transition to the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges for the 2016-17 season.

"I'm still out recruiting hard," Stanley said. "We've only had three girls sign so far, so we still have a lot of scholarships, which is fine because we signed our best three athletes at this time last year. It will all come together. This group we've got coming back is probably the best we've had. We kind of lucked out in having good kids coming back."

IN ADDITION to playing college volleyball at NAIA Dickinson State, Stanley was a five-time North Dakota high school state pole vault champion, winning four outdoor titles and one indoor.

"When I moved to Coeur d'Alene, I'd been substitute teaching at NIC," Stanley said. "I loved coaching and whatever I could do to help, I'd do. When I volunteered at the college, it was a lot of fun. The girls are here to play, and I just really enjoyed my time. When Kandice asked (to be an assistant coach), I jumped at the opportunity. I love my job and that's what was important."

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.