Photo by: Ray Bahner.
Air Force Volleyball Adds Brett & Kindra Gillen to Coaching Staff
8/4/2026 12:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. -- Air Force Volleyball head coach Macey Donathan recently announced the addition of Brett and Kindra Gillen to her coaching staff for the upcoming 2026 season. The pair brings a wealth of knowledge to the Falcons' program, with Brett being on the coaching staff of four national championship teams and Kindra earning All-America honors as a player at the University of Washington.
Brett Gillen was honored as one of the AVCA's "30 Under 30" in 2014, while serving as an assistant coach for the men's and women's teams at Concordia University, Irvine. The Golden Eagles claimed a pair of NAIA national titles during his three-year stint at CUI, with the women winning in 2012 and the men claiming the title in 2013. The teams also combined for three conference titles during that stretch, including a men's and women's sweep in 2013
He also served two stints on the coaching staff at Fresno Pacific University, serving as an assistant from 2006-08 and 2011. During his first three-year stretch with the Sunbirds, Gillen helped the squad to two NAIA national championships and three-straight Golden State Athletic Conference titles.
Gillen played on two USA Junior Olympic teams and helped Buchanan High School (CA) to the Valley Championship and No. 1 national ranking in 2003. He went on to play volleyball at Fresno State, winning the 2009 NIRSA national championship and claiming NIRSA Honorable Mention All-America honors. An all-league selection and MVP of the Northern California Collegiate Volleyball League Tournament in 2009, Gillen graduated with a degree in history.
Kindra Gillen, a native of Eaton, Colo., came to the Academy from Gonzaga University, where she spent three seasons (2022-24) as an assistant coach for the Bulldogs' volleyball team. During her time in Spokane, the Zags recorded their first-ever win against a Top 25 opponent. She has also coached at Notre Dame (2020–21), the University of Wyoming (2018), Liberty University (2017), and Nicholls State University (2016). During her stint in South Bend, she helped lead the Fighting Irish to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. At Wyoming, she helped guide the Cowgirls to a 20-win season and their second straight trip to the postseason. She was also on the sidelines of a Lady Flames team that advanced to the semifinals of the Big South Volleyball Tournament.
As a player at Washington, she earned All-America, All-Pacific Region, and All-Pac-10 honors as both a junior and senior. During her final season in Seattle, Gillen recorded a team-leading 471 kills, ranking fifth in the Pac-10 and 26th in the NCAA with a 4.17 kills-per-set average. Her maiden name, Carlson, is listed throughout the UW record book. Upon graduating from UW, she ranked fifth in career points (1,470) and held additional top-10 career marks in points per set (seventh, 4.22), kills per set (ninth, 3.59), and kills (10th, 1,251). The Huskies reached the NCAA Tournament in all four of her seasons, a run highlighted by an Elite Eight appearance.
After graduating from Washington with a degree in comparative history of ideas, Gillen played professionally in Puerto Rico, France, Greece, and Germany.
The couple have three sons – Cody, Clayton, and Cooper.
Brett Gillen was honored as one of the AVCA's "30 Under 30" in 2014, while serving as an assistant coach for the men's and women's teams at Concordia University, Irvine. The Golden Eagles claimed a pair of NAIA national titles during his three-year stint at CUI, with the women winning in 2012 and the men claiming the title in 2013. The teams also combined for three conference titles during that stretch, including a men's and women's sweep in 2013
He also served two stints on the coaching staff at Fresno Pacific University, serving as an assistant from 2006-08 and 2011. During his first three-year stretch with the Sunbirds, Gillen helped the squad to two NAIA national championships and three-straight Golden State Athletic Conference titles.
Gillen played on two USA Junior Olympic teams and helped Buchanan High School (CA) to the Valley Championship and No. 1 national ranking in 2003. He went on to play volleyball at Fresno State, winning the 2009 NIRSA national championship and claiming NIRSA Honorable Mention All-America honors. An all-league selection and MVP of the Northern California Collegiate Volleyball League Tournament in 2009, Gillen graduated with a degree in history.
Kindra Gillen, a native of Eaton, Colo., came to the Academy from Gonzaga University, where she spent three seasons (2022-24) as an assistant coach for the Bulldogs' volleyball team. During her time in Spokane, the Zags recorded their first-ever win against a Top 25 opponent. She has also coached at Notre Dame (2020–21), the University of Wyoming (2018), Liberty University (2017), and Nicholls State University (2016). During her stint in South Bend, she helped lead the Fighting Irish to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. At Wyoming, she helped guide the Cowgirls to a 20-win season and their second straight trip to the postseason. She was also on the sidelines of a Lady Flames team that advanced to the semifinals of the Big South Volleyball Tournament.
As a player at Washington, she earned All-America, All-Pacific Region, and All-Pac-10 honors as both a junior and senior. During her final season in Seattle, Gillen recorded a team-leading 471 kills, ranking fifth in the Pac-10 and 26th in the NCAA with a 4.17 kills-per-set average. Her maiden name, Carlson, is listed throughout the UW record book. Upon graduating from UW, she ranked fifth in career points (1,470) and held additional top-10 career marks in points per set (seventh, 4.22), kills per set (ninth, 3.59), and kills (10th, 1,251). The Huskies reached the NCAA Tournament in all four of her seasons, a run highlighted by an Elite Eight appearance.
After graduating from Washington with a degree in comparative history of ideas, Gillen played professionally in Puerto Rico, France, Greece, and Germany.
The couple have three sons – Cody, Clayton, and Cooper.
Tuesday, November 25
Thursday, November 20
Saturday, November 15
Thursday, November 13
