MARBLEHEAD — Marblehead High School is pleased to announce Shelley Burns as the varsity volleyball head coach for the 2026 season. With a wealth of experience on and off the court, Burns will bring a unique combination of athletic excellence, a deep understanding of the needs of student-athletes, and a passion for creating a successful team culture.

Burns has been a member of the Marblehead community since 2017 when she started teaching at Village School as the English language education teacher. In 2019, she began coaching volleyball at Marblehead High, first as the JV2 coach, then as the JV coach. Since then, Burns has coached teams of various ages, from 13-year-olds to 18-year-olds, and has gained valuable experience coaching and working with high school-aged youth.

Burns is now the librarian at Village School and excited to take on the new role of varsity volleyball coach at Marblehead High. She has attended seminars and read extensively on sports psychology, coaching volleyball, and developing mental performance.

“Shelley is a lifelong learner and part of our athletic and school community. She understands our values and has an established relationship with many of our students and coaches. I am looking forward to her leading our volleyball program this fall,” said Athletic Director Kent Wheeler.