This conversation is part of ESPN Wisconsin’s Beyond the Game live panel series, recorded June 16 at One Social in Madison. The event featured an in-depth discussion with Wisconsin women’s basketball head coach Robin Pingeton and Milwaukee baseball coach Shaun Wegner about the challenges and opportunities facing college athletics today.

Coach Pingeton reflects on what it’s like being a coach in 2026 and how the profession has evolved since she first entered coaching. She shares her perspective on leadership, player relationships, and navigating the rapidly changing landscape of college sports.

Coach Wegner discusses leading Milwaukee through NCAA Tournament success, the realities of building and maintaining a roster in the Horizon League, and the lessons he’s learned as a head coach. Together, the two coaches provide a fascinating look at the modern college athletics environment.

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Wisconsin volleyball head coach Kelly Sheffield joins me for an offseason conversation as we discuss the Badgers’ spring season and what stood out to him as the team continues to prepare for the future.

We also talk about highly touted freshman Decelise Champion reclassifying and becoming eligible to play in 2026, what her addition could mean for the program, and how the coaching staff approaches integrating young talent into the roster.

Plus, Coach Sheffield breaks down Wisconsin’s challenging 2026 schedule, the opportunities that come with playing top competition, and what the NCAA’s proposed 5-in-5 rule could mean for roster construction and the future of college volleyball.

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This special podcast comes from Wisconsin volleyball’s end-of-season celebration for ESPN Madison, featuring a live Q&A with head coach Kelly Sheffield, Charlie Fuerbringer, Jaela Auguste, and Kristen Simon. Together, we look ahead to the 2026 season and take questions from the live audience.

Coach Sheffield shares his thoughts on when the Big Ten may start having a conference tournament, while Charlie Fuerbringer opens up about how lonely it felt returning from her shoulder injury. Kristen Simon discusses what it’s like being the only defensive specialist currently on the roster, and Jaela Auguste talks about her journey to Wisconsin after transferring from Florida.

Wisconsin head coach Kelly Sheffield joins me to look ahead to the 2025 season, reflect on the loss to Kentucky, and break down the chaos that followed in the transfer portal.

He shares which transfer decisions surprised him including why Una Vajagić’s move caught him off guard and which ones he saw coming.

We also dive into Coach Sheffield’s thoughts on the transfer portal process as a whole, how it’s changing roster management across college volleyball, and what it means to re-recruit players already in your program.

It’s an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about the modern landscape of the sport and what comes next for Wisconsin.

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Wisconsin head coach Kelly Sheffield recaps the Badgers’ Sweet 16 and Elite 8 victories over Stanford and Texas, breaking down what went right and how the team handled the pressure on the biggest stage. He also looks ahead to the Final Four matchup against Kentucky and discusses what’s in store as Wisconsin prepares for another national semifinal.

The episode also includes Coach Sheffield’s reaction to Carter Booth’s viral moment on national TV, offering context, perspective, and a behind-the-scenes look at what happened next.

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Wisconsin volleyball coverage and postseason insight from The Kelly Sheffield Show.

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Listen to the Kelly Sheffield Show every week on 100.5 ESPN Madison or on the ESPN Madison YouTube Channel.

In this week’s podcast, I take you behind the scenes of Wisconsin’s Sweet 16 and Elite 8 wins over Stanford and Texas, sharing moments you didn’t see during the broadcasts.

You’ll hear Kelly Sheffield’s reaction to Carter Booth’s viral moment on national TV and how the team handled the spotlight during a pressure-filled weekend.

The episode also features player conversations with Una Vajagić, who talks about her favorite musical artists, and Charlie Fuerbringer, who shares how the team feels about the way it’s playing at this point in the tournament. Plus, relive the Elite 8 win over Texas with a snippet of a video recap from one of the biggest victories of the season.

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Wisconsin volleyball coverage, behind-the-scenes access, and postseason stories.

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On this week’s episode of The Kelly Sheffield Show, Wisconsin head coach Kelly Sheffield breaks down his coaching philosophy on using subs in big moments and why those decisions can shift momentum late in matches.

We also look ahead to the Badgers’ regional semifinal matchup with Stanford, along with the potential opponents they could see in a regional final.

The episode wraps up with fan questions, including a deeper look at how Coach Sheffield constructed this year’s offense, what shaped his decisions, and how the system has evolved throughout the season.

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Wisconsin volleyball coverage, insight, and postseason breakdowns on The Kelly Sheffield Show.

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Listen on 100.5 ESPN Madison OR check out ESPN Madison's YouTube Channel.

In this week’s episode, I recap the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament as Wisconsin reaches its 13th straight Sweet 16. I also share a clip from The Kelly Sheffield Show where Coach Sheffield talks about the key things that need to go right at this stage of the tournament and how the team is approaching the next challenge.

You’ll hear my interview with Carter Booth, who reflects on her time at Wisconsin and what this postseason run means to her. I also talk with Grace Egan, who wore out the insoles of her shoes during the season, and check in with Wisconsin women’s basketball player Nikki Kerstein, who shares why team unity has been such a driving force this season.

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Wisconsin volleyball and basketball interviews, tournament coverage, and behind-the-scenes stories.

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On this week’s episode of The Kelly Sheffield Show, Wisconsin head coach Kelly Sheffield talks about what it’s like preparing for the NCAA Tournament and how the team approaches this part of the season both mentally and strategically.

He also reflects on the dominant seasons being put together by Mimi Colyer and Carter Booth.

Coach Sheffield then breaks down how the Badgers handle communication on the sidelines during a potential challenge, offering a detailed look at the system, the decision-making process, and the teamwork involved in getting each call right.

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for weekly insight, interviews, and behind-the-scenes Wisconsin volleyball coverage on The Kelly Sheffield Show.

Listen weekly on 100.5 ESPN Madison or watch on the ESPN Madison YouTube Channel!

#OnWisconsin #Badgers #NCAAVB

In this week’s podcast, I share a special announcement about the start time for Wisconsin’s first-round NCAA Tournament match and details on how you can join the ESPN Madison Volleyball Bracket Challenge. You’ll also hear a clip from The Kelly Sheffield Show as Coach Sheffield talks about how his team responds to coaching and what drives their growth heading into postseason play.

This episode also features two interviews: Director of Meditation Training Chad McGhee explains how the team prepares their mind for competition and why mental routines matter at this time of year, and Allie Andrew gives insight into what it’s really like playing middle blocker at the college level.

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Wisconsin volleyball interviews, updates, and tournament coverage.

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