Kelly Friestad has been a familiar face around Judson University the past four years as a player and now will move to the bench in her first season as an assistant coach under Jim Cook.  Friestad graduated from Judson with an physical education degree in May 2008 and was a part of two NAIA National Tournament teams in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons.  In her four seasons, she also helped Judson to a CCAC Tournament Championship and a CCAC Regular Season Championship.

Friestad was a consistent player for the Eagles the past four years and in her senior season she led the CCAC in assist/turnover ratio at 1.64 per game and finished 25th in the NAIA.  She averaged 3.6 assists per game and 2.2 steals per game and had 105 assists to just 65 turnovers.  In that same season, she was third in the CCAC in assists (105) and steals ( 64), 12th in three-point field goals made (0.97), 18th in rebounding (4.6), and 22nd in scoring (7.6). 

Named to the NCCAA Academic All-American team as a junior, Friestad also garned the CCAC Player of the Week, once, in her senior season.  She will also be in the Judson record books as she finished 8th overall for a career with 252 assists.

Friestad is a native of Newark, Illinois, and the daughter of Kirk and Phyllis Friestad.