Jennifer O'Neal

The next head volleyball coach at Marshalltown High School will be Jennifer O’Neal, pending board approval.

MHS announced the hire through its social media accounts on Wednesday. O’Neal currently serves as the Curriculum and Professional Development Leader for grades 7-12, and she has previously coached at various levels of the Bobcat volleyball program.

“I am very excited for this incredible opportunity to be the head coach for Marshalltown Bobcat volleyball,” O’Neal stated in the release. “I have been so fortunate to have had vast experiences both playing and coaching, and it is truly an honor to continue to be a part of the rich tradition of volleyball in this community.

“I am really looking forward to working with the players to continue to build and sustain a unified culture that allows us to shape our character, resilience and success both on and off the court.”

O’Neal will fill the coaching void left by Kaylee Peschong, who stepped down from the post in December after four seasons at the helm.

O’Neal has coached within the Bobcat volleyball program starting in 2004, serving as a high school assistant coach at the freshman and junior varsity levels as well as a head coach at Miller Middle School. She was an assistant coach at Marshalltown Community College and has been the director of the Marshalltown Volleyball Club since 2017.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jen as our new leader of the Bobcat volleyball program,” said MHS athletic director Ryan Isgrig. “Her dedication to both education and volleyball, coupled with her coaching experience, makes her an ideal fit for our program. We look forward to seeing the positive impact she will undoubtedly have on our student-athletes.”

O’Neal played collegiate volleyball at Grand View University and received her Bachelor’s degree as well as her Master’s from Buena Vista University. Her husband, Ryan, is the Juvenile Court School Liaison at Miller Middle School.