Kelly Dorn joined the Georgia State beach volleyball program in August 2025 as the mental performance coach for the Sandy Panthers, bringing with her a decorated playing career and a strong foundation in both athletic and academic excellence.
In her first season as assistant coach and mental performance coach in 2026, Dorn played a key role in developing the psychological skills of the Sandy Panthers to perform at their best in both training and competition. She worked closely with student-athletes to strengthen areas such as confidence, focus, resilience, emotional control and motivation. Through techniques including goal setting, visualization, mindfulness and stress-management strategies, Dorn helped athletes manage pressure, overcome setbacks and maintain consistency throughout the season.
Through her mental performance coaching, Dorn helped lead Georgia State to its fourth-consecutive Sun Belt Conference Championship and fifth consecutive overall conference championship. The Panthers secured their sixth NCAA Championship appearance after earning the No. 15 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Georgia State posted a 4-1 conference record before dominating the Sun Belt Championship with a perfect 4-0 tournament mark, improving the program to 16-0 all-time in Sun Belt Championship matches. Dorn also served as the in-match coach for the pair of Noalani Nuez and Adeline Thompson, who finished the season 12-10 overall and undefeated against conference opponents. The duo went 3-0 during the Sun Belt Championship and clinched the match point against Coastal Carolina in the semifinals to send the Panthers to another conference championship final.
A standout student-athlete during her time at Georgia State, Dorn concluded her collegiate career as one of the program’s most accomplished competitors. She finished with 83 career victories, ranking among the top five in program history for individual wins.
In 2023, Dorn earned Sun Belt Conference Championship Pair of the Tournament honors alongside partner Elise Saga after helping lead the Sandy Panthers to the conference title in the inaugural season of Sun Belt beach volleyball. The duo secured wins over five nationally ranked opponents, helping Georgia State maintain a top-14 national ranking throughout the season and earn a second consecutive NCAA Championship berth.
During the historic 2022 campaign, Dorn paired primarily with Saga at the top flight, recording 18 wins and earning key victories over nationally ranked opponents including LSU and Tulane. She played an integral role in one of the most successful seasons in program history as Georgia State captured the Conference USA Championship and advanced to the NCAA Championship Round of Six, highlighted by a landmark upset over No. 2 seed TCU. The team’s No. 7 final AVCA ranking marked the highest finish in school history for any Division I athletic program.
In 2021, Dorn posted an 18-11 record while earning CCSA All-Academic Team honors, further establishing herself as a consistent contributor both on the sand and in the classroom.
Her collegiate success began during the shortened 2020 season, when she recorded an impressive 12-2 mark after posting a strong 19-12 record as a freshman in 2019. Across her career, Dorn accumulated numerous victories over nationally ranked opponents and demonstrated versatility by competing across multiple pairings and lineup positions.
Equally accomplished academically, Dorn earned multiple honors throughout her career, including CSC All-District recognition and numerous appearances on both the President’s List and Dean’s List. Her repeated selection to the CCSA All-Academic Team reflected her commitment to excellence both athletically and academically.
A native of Dallas, Texas, Dorn attended Byron Nelson High School, where she lettered in cross country and track and field while earning Academic All-District honors. She also competed for 692 Beach Dallas, winning the ROX Beach National Championship in 2017 and the USAV National Championship in 2016.
Dorn, whose full name is Kelly Marie Dorn, was born on October 3, 1999. She pursued a degree in kinesiology with aspirations of becoming a physical therapist, a path that aligns closely with her current role in supporting the mental and physical development of student-athletes.
