WEST LAFAYETTE — It had been an emotional year for Dave Shondell, and the 67-year-old’s persistence to see his contract through led to a rejuvenated Purdue volleyball coach.
The details of the four-year contract he announced Dec. 13 following the Boilermakers’ loss to Pittsburgh in the Elite Eight were released this week. He signed the contract five days prior to announcing it. Shondell previously told IndyStar he contemplated retirement before the Boilers’ core helped him decide to continue coaching.
Shondell saw All-Americans transfer away last winter, including high-profile in-state players Eva Hudson (Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger) to Kentucky and Chloe Chicoine (Lafayette McCutcheon) to Louisville.
“People just wanted to go someplace that they thought their opportunity was going to be better, and they did. But the kids that stayed, they also could have done the same thing, but they just loved Purdue too much to do that, and had a relationship with their teammates and stayed, and they’re just as determined as I am to make this thing work,” Shondell previously told IndyStar. Hudson and Kentucky play in Sunday’s national championship against Texas A&M.
Then the junior class became the core of another run to the Elite Eight, a team that went 27-7 after losing 92.5% of its offensive production the offseason prior. Kenna Wollard bided her time, playing out of position, until she emerged as a second-team All-American at her familiar outside hitter this season. She was part of that class that chose “Ever Grateful” as a slogan, leaving a profound impact on Shondell.
“They basically saved my coaching career because the eight players that returned were so loyal and showed so much love to me, and the freshmen that came in, the five freshmen, they can’t find anything wrong with Purdue,” Shondell said Dec. 13.
And with his next win, Shondell will become Purdue’s winningest coach regardless of sport. He ended the 2025 season tied with legendary men’s basketball coach Gene Keady (512). Shondell sits at 512-240 (.681) through 24 seasons and has coached 25 All-Americans, been to 20 NCAA tournaments and reached the regional final (Elite Eight) five times and regional semifinal (Sweet 16) 13 times.
Shondell’s contract signed Dec. 8 runs from Jan. 1, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2029, with a base salary bump after two years and two retention bonuses. He will be paid $425,000 the first two years of the deal, and it will rise to $450,000 the final two years. He will receive a “longevity bonus” of $50,000 if he remains employed on July 1, 2026, and another July 1, 2029.
The contract does not include additional incentives. However, it does say “the same [agreement] may be increased from time to time based entirely on performance and financial stability of department.
It also does not include buyout language except, “the base salary and incentive pay are subject to furloughs, pay freezes, salary reductions or other adjustments to the same extent they are required of other employees of the University or the Athletics Department.”
Should Shondell, who turns 68 on Jan. 18, make it all four years of his contract, with the retention bonuses, his deal totals $1.85 million over the four years, or an average annual value of $462,500.
Compare that to the Wisconsin State Journal report in 2023, and it would make Shondell a top-five highest earner in base pay ($425,000), though several coaches in that report have either retired or changed jobs. And as more programs invest into their volleyball programs, it’s reasonable to believe salaries have raised elsewhere.
Shondell made $375,000 as of Jan. 1, 2024, with a $50,000 bonus to be paid that July 1 based on a four-year contract he signed in December 2023.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How much Dave Shondell’s new Purdue volleyball contract will pay him
Reporting by Aaron Ferguson and Nathan Baird, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
