BY WENDI REARDON PRICE
Clarkston News Sports Writer
After 18 years at the helm, Kelly (Avenall) Pinner is stepping down as the head coach of Clarkston Varsity Volleyball for personal reasons.
“It was more of a personal decision for my husband and me,” Pinner shared after making the public announcement, Jan. 28. “We just wanted to try to enjoy some fall and summer time while we are still young and be active.”
Through the 18 seasons, Pinner had an 681-184-23 record. The Wolves won 13 OAA league championships, 13 district championships, three regional championships, made two trips to the semifinals, finishing in the Final Four in the 2011 and 2020 seasons.

“There were a lot of great teams, great kids to work with,” Pinner said.
Some of her fond memories include her former athletes coming back to help with the program by coaching or working the summer camps.
“I have always loved how many of them say their volleyball experience is some of their fondest memories from high school,” she said. “Many of my former athletes are still good friends to this day, and I think there is a lot to be said about that. They may not remember the wins and losses, but they remember the relationships they formed. And, that’s really what high school sports should be all about.”
Her first varsity team will always stand out because it was the first team and she still keeps in touch with a lot of them.
The 2011 Final Four team also stands out.
“Great group of girls,” she said. “They worked hard all year.”
The 2020 Final Four team will also have a fond place as Pinner and the athletes played through COVID pandemic.
“Obviously this year’s team will stand out for many reasons,” she said. “Back in June having to practice outdoors and basically doing that June, July and August. Then, finally getting the okay. Practicing at the junior high because the high school wasn’t ready. Then, getting postponed in playoffs when I felt we were really playing so well. The girls sticking it out was great. Then, making it to the final four again and having that great match against Marian. That’s definitely going to be one of the highlights of my memory list.”
She also reflected on the battles against cross-town rivals, Lake Orion.
“It will definitely be in the top five of fondest things – the great program Lake Orion has and being able to battle against them over the years. The wins in those district and league championships definitely stand out,” she said.
Pinner put her own twist on the program, creating fun things the girls enjoyed over the years like Whack It Wednesday and the Clarkston Cup.
“Practices sometimes get a little mundane, and I wanted to get them a little more energized,” she said. “I would put them in two teams and give them all kinds of silly games and sometimes volleyball type stuff they had to play against each other. They would earn Clarkston Cup points. Whatever team won at the end would get ice cream sandwiches which would seem so silly, but they would play so hard for those ice cream sandwiches.”
Pinner added after being around the volleyball program since she was 12-years-old and being a Clarkston alum it felt a little like a break up.
“Though I am not going to completely sever myself from the program,” she shared, adding she will still be coaching one of the eighth grade volleyball teams and teaching. “I still plan on peeking in there every once in a while. Hopefully go to some matches and be part of the program in some aspect. There’s some traditions I built for the program that hopefully will continue. The girls have been amazing over the years and have gotten to the point kind of made a name for themselves in the state in the terms of Clarkston Volleyball.”
Pinner took over for Gordie Richardson when he retired. She was coaching one of the middle school teams when then-Clarkston Athletic Director Dan Fife asked her if she was interested.
“I remember telling him I didn’t think I was,” she shared. “I thought it was more time than I could invest with being a classroom teacher. He said, ‘I really want you to think about it.'”
She did take time to think it over and see if she could make it happen with her teaching schedule.
“I finally decided I thought I could do it and try to carry on some of the traditions Gordie did – it was my goal,” she said.
Pinner added the community has been great.
“So many people have reached out to me last week. So many people who came to our matches who never had a daughter in the program but they were just fans of volleyball and fans of Clarkston Volleyball,” she said. “It means a lot to me. I always told the girls if you see someone make sure you are thanking them for being there and supporting you.”
She added a big thank you to all of her athletes over the years.
“Thank you not only for being excellent athletes, but exemplary students and great leaders,” Pinner said. “It has always been a source of pride for me and for these girls, too. Not only are they excellent volleyball players, but they do great things in the classroom and in the community. I have always enjoyed that aspect in Clarkston Volleyball. I look forward to watching them grow, become mothers, wives and watching them to continue beyond the volleyball world.”