Zabal becomes the sixth head coach in program history, dating back to the team's inaugural season in 1994.
Loyola University New Orleans Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Brett Simpson announced today that Jesse Zabal has been named the head coach for the Wolf Pack volleyball program. Zabal becomes the sixth head coach in program history, dating back to the team's inaugural season in 1994.
"We're excited to have Coach Zabal join the Loyola community. She has a proven record of success as a student athlete and coach in both the collegiate and club ranks. Jesse impressed us with her commitment to student development both from an athletic and academic standpoint. She will be a great addition to our University," said Simpson
Zabal comes to New Orleans after spending the last four years as a head coach in the Alliance Volleyball Club in Franklin, Tennessee. Zabal led Alliance to a 31-7 overall record over the past two years, including two tournament titles. Since 2012, Zabal had 67 student-athletes commit to __play college volleyball and secured 22 more commitments through 2019.
Before taking the reins at Alliance, Zabal was an assistant coach at her alma mater Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee. In her three seasons at Maryville, she helped the Fighting Scots to two Great South Athletic Conference Titles (2009, 2011) and two appearances in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. Zabal's teams featured two GSAC Player of the Year recipients, 12 All-Conference selections, and an impressive 22 All-Academic Team members. Acting as both a second assistant and a top assistant throughout her time at Maryville, Zabal helped lead the Fighting Scots to a 76-26 overall record, highlighted by a 29-win season in 2009-10.
Maryville head coach Kandis Schram both worked with and coached Zabal at Maryville and credited Jesse as being an integral part of the Fighting Scots success over the years.
"Jesse is a remarkable young woman," Schram commented. "She was always a student of the game who strived to not only do her best but to elevate the __play of those she played with. Regardless if it was running an offense, breaking down the defensive scheme or working on team building activities, Jesse was an integral part of our success."
As a player, Zabal was a standout for the Fighting Scots, helping lead the team to a 104-38 overall record throughout her four seasons. Maryville won four GSAC Tournament Championships during her tenure and qualified for the NCAA DIII National Tournament twice. Zabal was a two-time GSAC All-Academic Team selection at Maryville and she finished her career with 424 total kills in 326 sets played.
Zabal graduated from Maryville with a B.A. in Child Development and Learning in 2008 before receiving a master's degree in Human Development and Counseling from Vanderbilt University in May 2015.
