Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content
UNLEASH THE GRIZZ

Oakland University Athletics

Scoreboard

Stahl2023

Kyle Stahl

Stahl joined the Oakland University staff in 2022 along with head coach Krista Rice, following 16 seasons on staff at Western Michigan.

Last season, OU posted an 8-22 record, ending the season with a reverse 3-2 sweep of eventual Horizon League Champion Wright State on Senior Day in the OUCU O'rena. Libero Emily Wichmann was tabbed All-Horizon Second Team and ranked fifth in the NCAA after the regular season in total digs (659). Wichmann, along with Tyler Linkhart, Rachel Rossman, and Ainsley Guse were named College Sport Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District after the 2024 season.

2023 saw one of Oakland Volleyball's best seasons in program history. Stahl assisted the Golden Grizzlies to 17 regular season wins -- most since 2017 -- and a .611 win percentage in Horizon League matches. Wichmann was named the 2023 Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year along with All-League First Team honors -- the first Golden Grizzly to earn the postseason award since 2014. Patti Cesarini was named All-League Second Team, Gentry Brown was listed All-Freshman, and Anika Prisby was a finalist for the Horizon League Sportsmanship Award from the season. Cesarini, Wichmann, Rossman and Guse were named CSC Academic All-District for their work on the court and in the classroom.

Following her inaugural, 2022 season, Stahl helped produce an All-Horizon League First Team honoree in Patti Cesarini who also took home the team's solo Horizon League All-Academic honor. The squad's 11-19 record included one of the largest upsets in NCAA Division I Volleyball, a 3-2 road victory over Green Bay, and the best team record (2-1) at the Kent State Invitational. Four Golden Grizzlies were named CSC Academic-All District in Cesarini, Jessica Riedl, Madison Ross, and AnnaBelle Tomei.

During his tenure at WMU, the Broncos won a pair of MAC West Championships and made two NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2011, his first year as a full-time assistant coach, Stahl helped WMU to a 24-9 record and an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. The season was the seventh consecutive 20-win season for the Broncos, a first in program history, and saw Western Michigan take on the #11 Washington Huskies in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

In 2014, Stahl helped the Broncos reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011 and second time in his tenure, with WMU winning four matches in as many days in the 2014 Mid-American Conference Tournament. Western Michigan stunned the top-seeded Ohio Bobcats in the semifinal round and came back from a 2-0 match deficit to defeat the Miami RedHawks in the championship, claiming WMU's first Tournament title since the 2000 season.

Western Michigan has had strong success on the recruiting trail at Western Michigan as well. WMU's 2014 class received Highest Honorable Mention by Prep Volleyball, and the 2015, 2017 and 2020 classes were High Honorable Mention per Prep Volleyball. 

Stahl worked as a student assistant under head coach Colleen Munson from August 2007 until December 2010.  Stahl has been part of seven of the Broncos’ nine 20-win seasons under Munson, including a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in 2011 and 2014. He was an undergraduate assistant on the 2008 WMU team that defeated Dayton and Tulane in the NCAA Tournament and made its way to the Sweet 16.

Stahl is recognized as an accomplished club coach in the region, having coached regional teams to great achievements. Prior to WMU, he coached Lakeshore High Performance for two seasons. In 2011, he led them to a bronze medal in the Gold division at the 2011 High Performance championships in Tucson, Ariz. It was the first time any team from the Lakeshore region had ever medaled at the prestigious tournament.

In addition, Stahl was the 18s national coach for the Dead Frog club team based in Portage. In 2011, he led the team to a first-place finish in the consolation bracket and 15th-place finish overall in the 18 open division at the AAU National Tournament in Orlando, Fla. DFFO 18 Silver took third place in the 18s Club Division at AAU Nationals in 2014..

Stahl has been a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Assocation (AVCA) since 2009 and a United States of America Volleyball (USAV) member since 2007. He also was a part of the Assistant Coach Immersion Program from 2015-16, and involved in Camp Elevate from 2017-19.

Stahl was an accomplished men’s club volleyball player at Western Michigan, where he spent six years as a starting middle blocker. Stahl also acted as team coach from 2007-10, implementing practice plans and giving feedback to players. In 2008, the team was named a National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Division I-AA Finalist.

He graduated from Western Michigan in December 2010 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Physical Education, and earned his Master's degree in Sports Management in April 2014.  

Stahl and his wife, Melissa, have three daughters Stella, Charlotte, and Josie with the family’s golden doodle, Roxie.