Ashley Shepard

Coach Ashley is entering her third season at The St. James, where she has made a significant impact both on and off the court. She was the assistant coach for the 14 White team during the 2023-2024 season and most recently served as head coach for the 15 Navy team during the 2024-2025 season. During the 2024-2025 club season, Coach Ashley led her team to top 5 finishes in multiple tournaments, including an impressive 1st place at the CHRVA non-bid regionals, 3rd place in an open tournament, and 2nd place in the gold bracket at the BEACHFEST tournament, with three players earning all-tournament team honors.

Coach Ashley’s passion for volleyball is deeply rooted in her playing career. A standout athlete at Bowie High School, she played as a 6-rotation right-side hitter for three seasons before transitioning to setter in her senior year and played as a defensive specialist for her club team. During the 2009-2010 season, Ashley helped lead Bowie High School to an impressive 17-1 season, Maryland 4A Regional and County championships and a semi-state appearance. Her leadership and performance earned her all-county honors and the team MVP title during her final high school year.

Ashley continued her volleyball career at the University of Kansas, where she played as a defensive specialist for the KU Women’s Club Volleyball team. She was instrumental in the team’s success, contributing to their National D1 Club Volleyball Championship in 2015. Alongside her playing career, Ashley served as team manager for the University of Kansas D1 volleyball team, working closely with three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year Ray Bechard and assistant coaches Laura “Bird” Kuhn, Todd Chamberlain, and Wendel Camargo. Through this role, she gained invaluable experience managing practices, game day operations, and coaching camps.

Building on this foundation, Ashley launched her coaching career at Perry-Lecompton High School in Kansas, where she helped the team reach a semi-state appearance. She later served as head assistant coach at Sumner Academy High School, leading the team to its most successful season in school history. Currently, Ashley is heading into her first season as the Head JV Coach for Georgetown Day School.

Coach Ashley brings her deep love for the game, extensive knowledge, and fun coaching style to every team she works with at The St. James. She’s dedicated to cultivating players’ skills, fostering teamwork, and celebrating the sport she’s so passionate about.