Behind every successful athlete stands a support system, and Kelly Cheng husband Jordan Cheng is much more than just a supportive spouse. The volleyball power couple represents a unique dynamic in professional sports where the lines between coach and partner blend seamlessly.
Jordan Cheng brings his own impressive volleyball credentials to their relationship. While many know him as Kelly’s husband, Jordan has established himself as a respected coach with extensive experience at prestigious institutions like Pepperdine, Concordia, and UCI. His coaching expertise has consequently become an integral part of Kelly’s continued success on the international beach volleyball stage.
This article explores who Jordan Cheng is beyond his marriage to the volleyball star, how their relationship evolved from professional to personal, and the remarkable achievements they’ve accomplished together. Their story illustrates how a shared passion for volleyball created not just a successful partnership on the sand, but also a thriving marriage off the court.
Who is Jordan Cheng?
Jordan Cheng is a prominent figure in the volleyball coaching world who has established his identity beyond being known as Kelly Cheng’s husband. With his impressive volleyball background and coaching accomplishments, Jordan has carved out a successful career that complements his role as Kelly’s coach and partner.
Basic profile and background
Jordan currently serves as an assistant coach at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), where he is in his third year with the women’s volleyball program. His coaching journey includes significant experiences at multiple institutions. After graduating from college, Jordan became the Director of Operations for the men’s volleyball team at Pepperdine University in 2013-14, where he managed the team’s Data Volley statistics, coordinated travel, and handled daily administrative duties.
Following his time at Pepperdine, Jordan moved to Concordia University as a women’s assistant coach. His coaching career continued to flourish as he joined UCI’s men’s volleyball team from 2016 to 2018, helping the Anteaters secure an NCAA appearance in 2018.
Notably, Jordan has extensive experience with USA Volleyball. He served as the technical coordinator and team manager for the USA Volleyball’s men’s Pan Am Cup team in 2016 and later as an assistant coach for the Pan Am Cup team in 2017. One of his notable achievements includes leading Karissa Cook and Jace Pardon to a gold medal in beach volleyball at the 2019 Pan Am Games.
Nationality, ethnicity, and education
Jordan Cheng is an American citizen of Asian ethnicity. He stands at 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) tall. Currently, he resides in Huntington Beach, California with his wife Kelly.
Regarding his education, Jordan attended Beckman High School, where he excelled as an All-Pacific Coast League setter. Subsequently, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Chapman University in 2013, with a focus on finance and entrepreneurship. Jordan furthered his education at Concordia University, obtaining a master’s degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration in 2015 .
Early interest in volleyball
Jordan’s volleyball journey began during his time at Chapman University, where he made a significant contribution by founding the university’s club volleyball team in 2009. From 2011 to 2013, he played as an opposite and setter for Chapman’s team.
Initially, Jordan had aspirations to play volleyball professionally after graduation. However, as he revealed in an October 2020 interview on the SandCast Media podcast, his career path shifted toward coaching when exceptional opportunities arose:
“I started the club team (at Chapman), got to compete then tried playing professionally afterwards. It just seemed like over the years of me coaching, every time I’ve tried pursuing playing, a gnarly coaching opportunity has come up where I’m like, I can’t say no because it just seems like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”.
Despite focusing on coaching, Jordan remains an accomplished beach volleyball player in his own right. In 2016, he won the prestigious Huntington Beach Open. Moreover, he has maintained a AAA rating in beach volleyball for three consecutive years, demonstrating his continued skill and passion for playing the sport.
Jordan Cheng’s Coaching Career
Jordan Cheng’s coaching journey reflects his strategic mind and dedication to volleyball development. Unlike many coaches who transition after lengthy playing careers, Jordan discovered his coaching aptitude early while still balancing his own competitive aspirations.
Transition from player to coach
The turning point in Jordan’s career path came shortly after founding Chapman University’s club volleyball team. Although he initially planned to pursue professional play after graduation, exceptional coaching opportunities repeatedly presented themselves. In his own words from an October 2020 interview, “Every time I’ve tried pursuing playing, a gnarly coaching opportunity has come up where I’m like, I can’t say no because it just seems like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
This pattern of following promising coaching paths instead of playing professionally ultimately shaped his career trajectory. Nevertheless, Jordan has maintained his playing skills at an elite level, earning a AAA rating in beach volleyball for three consecutive years and winning the prestigious Huntington Beach Open in 2016.
Key roles at Pepperdine, Concordia, and UCI
Jordan’s coaching resume features positions at several respected volleyball programs. His first significant role came at Pepperdine University in 2013-14, where he served as Director of Operations for the men’s volleyball team. In this position, he handled the team’s Data Volley statistics, coordinated travel arrangements, and managed daily administrative responsibilities.
After Pepperdine, Jordan joined Concordia University as a women’s assistant coach, further expanding his experience across both men’s and women’s volleyball. During this period, he simultaneously pursued his master’s degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration, completing it in 2015.
His career path eventually led him to the University of California, Irvine (UCI), where he first worked with the men’s volleyball program from 2016 to 2018. Under his guidance, the Anteaters secured an NCAA tournament appearance in 2018. Currently, Jordan serves in his third year as an assistant coach for UCI’s women’s volleyball program.
Achievements with USA Volleyball teams
Beyond collegiate coaching, Jordan has built an impressive resume with USA Volleyball. His international coaching experience began as the technical coordinator and team manager for USA Volleyball’s men’s Pan Am Cup team in 2016. The following year, he was promoted to assistant coach for the same competition.
Perhaps his most notable achievement with USA Volleyball came in 2019, when Jordan coached Karissa Cook and Jace Pardon to a gold medal in beach volleyball at the Pan American Games. This international success demonstrated his ability to develop talent at the highest levels of competition.
Throughout his coaching career, Jordan has shown versatility by working effectively with both indoor and beach volleyball athletes. His technical expertise, combined with a player-centered coaching philosophy, has made him a valuable asset to various programs and teams.
Additionally, Jordan’s coaching career intersected with his personal life when he began working with Kelly Cheng (formerly Kelly Claes). As both Kelly’s husband and coach, he has helped shape her development into one of the world’s premier beach volleyball players. Their professional partnership has produced remarkable results, including Olympic qualification and multiple international titles.
How Jordan and Kelly Met
The love story between Kelly Cheng and her husband began in the familiar setting of college volleyball tours. Their relationship evolved from professional collaborators to life partners, creating both a powerful volleyball duo and a loving marriage.
First meeting during college tours
The paths of Kelly Cheng and Jordan Cheng first crossed during college volleyball tours in 2019. Unlike many celebrity couples who meet through mutual friends or high-profile events, their introduction happened organically within the volleyball community. According to multiple sources, they connected through their shared passion for the sport that would ultimately define both their careers.
Interestingly, several reports indicate that their initial interactions were purely professional, with volleyball as the central focus. As competitors and colleagues in the beach volleyball circuit, they had opportunities to observe each other’s dedication and approach to the sport before any romantic connection formed.
From professional to personal relationship
What started as a professional connection soon developed into something deeper. In 2019, Jordan began coaching Kelly, establishing a working relationship that would provide the foundation for their personal bond. Their shared volleyball expertise created a natural synergy that translated remarkably well from the court to their personal lives.
The professional relationship officially evolved into romance when they began dating in 2020. Throughout this period, Jordan continued to serve as Kelly’s coach, creating a unique dynamic where they balanced professional guidance with growing personal affection.
Their ability to maintain both relationships simultaneously demonstrated exceptional communication skills and mutual respect. This dual connection—as coach/athlete and romantic partners—became a distinctive characteristic of their relationship, setting them apart from typical sports couples.
Engagement and wedding timeline
After dating for approximately a year, the couple reached a significant milestone in their relationship. On October 3, 2021, Jordan proposed to Kelly in San Clemente, California. The picturesque coastal setting provided a perfect backdrop for this important moment in their journey together.
The couple didn’t wait long to make their union official. Just five months after their engagement, they tied the knot on March 6, 2022. True to their beach volleyball roots, they chose Huntington Beach, California as the venue for their wedding ceremony. The oceanfront location reflected their shared love for the beach that had brought them together professionally before uniting them in marriage.
Since their wedding, Jordan has continued his role as Kelly’s coach, creating a partnership that spans both their personal and professional lives. Their unique relationship demonstrates how shared passion can create a strong foundation for both athletic success and marital happiness.
Working Together as Coach and Athlete
The professional-personal dynamic between Kelly Cheng and her husband creates a unique situation in professional sports where boundaries between work and home life often blur. Their relationship offers rare insights into how married couples navigate the complexities of working together in high-performance athletics.
How they balance marriage and coaching
The delicate equilibrium between personal and professional lives requires constant attention for Kelly Cheng and Jordan Cheng. After beginning their coaching relationship in 2019, the couple started dating in 2020 before marrying in 2022. Throughout this evolution, they’ve maintained their coach-athlete dynamic—a rarity in professional sports.
Finding time to separate volleyball from their personal life remains an ongoing struggle. As Jordan admits, “When I go home, first thing I want to do is watch film with Kelly”. Their home conversations frequently revolve around strategy and technique, even during everyday activities. Kelly often finds herself cooking lunch while Jordan studies volleyball footage in the corner.
Kelly frequently expresses her need for boundaries: “It’s volleyball a lot, and I for sure lean on the side of ‘OK Jordan, now can I have my husband back for just a few hours?'”. Creating these distinctions has become fundamental to preserving both their marriage and professional partnership.
Challenges and benefits of the dynamic
The coach-athlete marriage presents unique obstacles beyond typical workplace relationships. Jordan candidly describes their situation: “The tension and troubles it causes, it’s hard, it’s really hard. It presses and squeezes us a lot in our relationship”.
Yet alongside these difficulties come significant advantages. Unlike many international competitors who endure months of separation from their partners, Kelly spends five to six months traveling with her husband during competition season. This shared experience creates an unmatched support system difficult to replicate in other athletic partnerships.
Their arrangement offers professional benefits too. Research shows that “athletes who form close attachment to their coaches are more likely to feel secure in exploring their role in sport, pushing their boundaries, taking risks to improve performance”. Under Jordan’s guidance, Kelly and partner Sarah Hughes won the World Beach Pro Tour meet in Ostrava in 2024.
Quotes from interviews about their teamwork
Jordan approaches their unusual arrangement with professional integrity: “We’re not doing it because it’s easy and comfortable… I’m not going to sabotage my wife’s career, I’m not going to sabotage my own coaching career that I’ve worked really hard on”.
Both recognize the uniqueness of their situation, with Kelly noting: “It is amazing that we get to do this together” . Despite challenges, they remain committed to their shared vision.
Perhaps most revealing is Jordan’s explanation of what sustains them: “The thing that’s holding us together is our why and why we do it. We get to dream together about what we get to do… Who am I doing it for? Who do I want to become? It’s worth it”.
Major Achievements as a Team
Together as coach and athlete, Kelly Cheng and her husband Jordan have amassed an impressive collection of victories that showcase their professional synergy. Their partnership extends beyond marriage, creating a powerhouse team in beach volleyball.
Olympic qualifications and wins
Kelly’s Olympic journey began at the Tokyo 2020 Games, where she competed with Sarah Sponcil and finished ninth overall . For Paris 2024, the path was even more remarkable as Kelly and Sara Hughes secured their Olympic qualification by winning the 2023 Beach Volleyball World Championships . In June 2024, the pair was officially named to the U.S. Beach Volleyball Team for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Furthermore, their Olympic journey started promisingly as they defeated Barbora Hermannova and Marie-Sara Stochlova from Czechia 2-0 (21-16, 21-11) in their opening match [9]. Under Jordan’s guidance as coach, they positioned themselves among the top contenders for Olympic glory.
World Championship victories
The duo’s most significant triumph came in October 2023 when they won the Beach Volleyball World Championship, becoming the first American team to claim this title in 14 years. Remarkably, they defeated Brazil’s Ana Patricia and Duda, who hadn’t lost in 19 matches and hadn’t even dropped a set in seven matches in Mexico.
Their international success continued into 2024 when they earned gold at the Elite 16 tournament in Ostrava, Czech Republic – their first international victory since their world championship win . Significantly, this win cemented their standing among top U.S. women’s pairs heading into the Olympics.
Impact on each other’s careers
Jordan’s coaching has been instrumental in Kelly’s resurgence with Sara Hughes. Upon reuniting in late 2022, they immediately clicked, winning their first four tournaments together . This professional partnership has yielded numerous achievements, including seven World Tour gold medals.
Ultimately, their relationship exemplifies how mutual support can enhance professional success. As Jordan stated: “We get to dream together about what we get to do”. Their shared goals and vision have created a foundation for both personal happiness and athletic excellence that continues to produce championship results.
Conclusion
The remarkable partnership between Kelly Cheng and Jordan Cheng stands as a testament to how shared passion can forge both athletic excellence and marital harmony. Their journey from professional colleagues to husband and wife reveals the power of mutual respect and common goals. Undoubtedly, their unique coach-athlete dynamic presents challenges as they navigate the blurry boundaries between volleyball strategy discussions and personal time together.
Nevertheless, this distinctive arrangement offers advantages many elite athletes lack. While competitors often spend months separated from loved ones during international competitions, Kelly enjoys the constant support of her husband throughout grueling tournament schedules. Jordan’s technical expertise paired with his deep understanding of Kelly’s capabilities creates a competitive edge that has propelled them to remarkable achievements, including World Championship victory and Olympic qualification.
Though balancing marriage with professional collaboration requires continuous effort, their results speak volumes about the effectiveness of their approach. They have proven that relationships built on shared dreams can withstand the pressures of high-performance athletics. Jordan and Kelly demonstrate daily that love and volleyball excellence need not be mutually exclusive.
Above all, their story illustrates how two volleyball enthusiasts found each other through the sport they love, turning professional respect into lifelong commitment. Their continued success serves as inspiration for other athletes seeking balance between personal fulfillment and competitive achievement. Jordan and Kelly Cheng have created a partnership that thrives both on the volleyball court and in life beyond it.