FLORENCE, Ala. (May 22, 2026) – University of North Alabama Director of Athletics Dr. Josh Looney announced a change in leadership for the UNA beach volleyball program on Friday, as former player and assistant coach Mackenzie Martin Velazco has been promoted to head coach and will begin immediately.
 
She replaces her former head coach Kaleb VanDePerre, who completed four successful seasons with the program. VanDePerre departs UNA for a position on the indoor volleyball staff at Liberty University, where he previously coached the club beach volleyball program from 2016-22.
 
"We are appreciative of the leadership Kaleb VanDePerre has provided in building our beach volleyball program and positioning it for continued success," said Looney. "At the same time, we are excited to elevate Mackenzie Martin Velazco into the head coach role. Mackenzie has been an integral part of our program's growth as both a student-athlete and coach under Kaleb's leadership, and her experience, passion and understanding of our culture make her a natural fit to lead our program forward."
 
Velazco played five seasons of beach volleyball at North Alabama from 2020-24 following a standout volleyball career at Hoover High School in Alabama. At UNA, she finished with a career individual record of 81-50 and never had a losing record in five seasons. At the time of her graduation, she ranked second all-time in total wins for the program.
 
Velazco was also a two-time Academic All-ASUN selection and won Lion Queen at the 2023 Player's Choice Awards — given to the top senior female student-athlete each season based on their impact in the classroom, in competition and in the community. She also won the ASUN Spring Winners for Life Award as UNA's representative in 2023.
 
"I'm beyond excited to take on this role as the new head coach," said Velazco. "I am a firm believer that the right doors will open when they are supposed to and for the right opportunity, and this is my door opening for me. I want to thank my husband Alex for his endless support and confidence in me as I take on this new role, and to Dr. Looney and Anna Hovater for believing in me as an athlete, as an assistant coach and now trusting me with this role and continuing to challenge my abilities and passion for the sport and the student-athletes.
 
"I'm grateful to get the opportunity to continue pouring into this program, and although it will look different in years past, I get to continue my passion for growing the game and traching the young women who strive for greatness. I can't wait to get to lead them to walk boldly and confidently into their roles as athletes, women and professionals."
 
In her two seasons as an assistant under VanDePerre, the Lions finished with a 40-29 overall record and a 13-6 record in conference play. UNA also won three postseason matches in that span over Jacksonville, EKU and Austin Peay.
 
As for VanDePerre, he departs UNA with an 82-58 overall record — recording four consecutive winning seasons. His 22 wins in both 2024 and 2026 match the program's single-season win record. He also coached the team to Power Four wins over Nebraska and Oregon and to the first ranked win in program history against No. 20 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
 
Under his leadership, the Lions celebrated numerous athletic and academic honors with 16 all-conference and 14 academic all-conference selections. He also helped Paula Klemperer become the program's first College Sports Communicators Academic All-American and coached multiple players to AVCA Top Flight Awards.
 
Additionally, VanDePerre was voted the 2024 ASUN Coach of the Year. He was UNA's first Division I coach to win the honor in any sport.
 
"I'm incredibly grateful for my time at UNA and the opportunity Dr. Looney gave me to continue building a program," said VanDePerre. "My family and I were loved and supported by everyone in the UNA community and will miss and cherish our time in Florence. Mackenzie is undoubtedly more than ready to take over after helping build the program before I was ever on the radar. Her heart for the athletes and determination and knowledge make me so excited for the future."
 
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