JOANNA PRYOR
Here’s the skinny on Joanna Pryor, the new Newman volleyball coach who got her grand introduction yesterday. I got to talk to her for a few minutes, and here are some of the highlights:
-She’s from Attica
-There was only one job in Kansas (small college, obviously) she’d consider leaving Cowley for, and she got it.
“When I saw that Newman was going Division II, I told people that was the only job I’d leave Cowley for in the state,” Pryor said. “For so long there was kind of a void in Wichita as far as Division II volleyball, because you had teams at Washburn, Hays, Emporia and so on but not here.”
-She thinks that Wichita State’s volleyball success could help Newman’s program.
“The success they’ve had and the support they’ve had can only have a trickle-down effect, and I think we can really benefit from it,” Pryor said.
I get what she’s saying here — interest is up in the sport, and Newman has something to offer to recruits (local recruits, specifically) that the local jucos and NAIA schools don’t — that shiny NCAA tag.
-Expect her to hit the jucos hard. And why wouldn’t she? With all the success she’s had there, you can count on some of Newman’s top players coming out of the Jayhawk.
“I’m definitely looking to bring in a few girls,” Pryor said. “Some that I’ve coached at Cowley, possibly.”
-And, finally, her husband was eager to get to Wichita.
“We found out I got the job Monday and that night he had like 15 boxes packed,” Pryor said. “I think he’s ready for the move.”
Here’s part of the release from the Newman athletic department:
Pryor served in the same capacity at Cowley College since 2000, posting an overall record of 218-93 and taking her last four teams to the NJCAA National Championship Tournament.
“We are ecstatic to have Joanna Pryor as our head volleyball coach and the newest member of our Newman athletic community”, Trilli said. “I think she will do a tremendous job in all areas: recruiting, on-floor coaching, player-coach relationships, fundraising, faculty-staff relations, etc.”
The move comes after Maureen “Mo” Rohleder resigned in early December after four years as Newman’s head coach. She remains in the Newman University athletics department as Senior Woman Administrator.
Pryor began her coaching career as a student assistant at Wichita State University in the fall of 2000. She soon took over the head position at Cowley and built the program into a national power.
The Tigers advanced to the NJCAA National Tournament in each of the last four years, finishing as the National Runner-Up in 2005. Pryor guided two of her teams to undefeated conference championships (2005 and 2008), with the 2008 team also going undefeated through the regional championship.
During Pryor’s tenure at Cowley College, 28 student-athletes were named All-Conference, 18 garnered All-Region recognition and eight earned All-American status. She also coached eight Academic All-Americans.
Pryor served as the Secretary of the KJCCC Volleyball Coaches Association from 2006-2008 and is also a member of the KJCCC Division II Volleyball Committee.