After five years in the program as a student-athlete and two years as an assistant coach, Mackenzie Martin Velazco was announced as the head coach of the UNA beach volleyball progrm on May 22, 2026.
Velazco wrapped up her career with 127 matches played and 81 total wins, which ranked tied for first and second all-time in program history, respectively, at the end of her career. As an assistant coach, she helped the Lions achieve two more winning seasons, including a 22-14 record in 2026 to tie the single season win record for the program.
Velazco replaced Kaleb VanDePerre, who accepted a position at Liberty after four seasons with the program. Velazco was instrumental in helping VanDePerre finish with four winning seasons as a player and a coach, including him winning the 2024 ASUN Coach of the Year.
On top of her accolades on the court, she is a two-time Academic All-Atlantic Sun Conference and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team selection, winning both in 2023 and 2024. Martin also received an ASUN Spring Winners for Life honor in 2023 — the first in UNA Beach Volleyball program history.
A two-time graduate of North Alabama, Velazco holds a Master’s of Science in Sports and Recreation Management and a bachelor’s degree in exercise science with a minor in health promotion. She and her husband, Alex, reside in the Shoals.
