Coaches

Putting the pieces together for an exciting season is what head coach Leslie Howe has done as she enters her third year at Southwest Baptist. The past two years, she has built a foundation for SBU volleyball and know has the core of players that can grow into a thrilling season.,

In two years as the head coach, she has produced three all-MIAA honorable mention players. In her first year, Kristanella Allain made the all-MIAA team and then last year senior Jenny Madrid and freshman Chelsea Kenny were chosen. Also, in two years, she has had nine players make the MIAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll for their grade point averages.

With a strong knowledge of volleyball, Howe brings valuable experiences with her from the Lone Star Conference and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. She has played and coached in two of the top NCAA Division II conferences and knows what it takes to have a strong volleyball program.

Howe brings a passion from within for volleyball and looks to forward the program at Southwest Baptist. In January 2003, she entered her first position as a head coach at SBU.

Coming to SBU from Abilene Christian University, she spent three seasons as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. She also taught in the exercise science department at ACU and was the director and head coach of Abilene Attack Volleyball Club.

The Texas-native served as an assistant volleyball coach at Bemidji State from 1998 to 2000 while working on her master’s degree. In 1999, Howe directed the Pacesetter Volleyball Camps throughout Minnesota and the surrounding states. In 1996 and 1997, she was the head coach of the Concho Valley Juniors.

Howe finished her four-year collegiate career at Angelo State University ranking in the all-time top 10 in both digs and service aces.

A standout player at Martin High School in Arlington, Texas, Howe earned honorable mention all-district honors, and led the Warriors to a regional semifinal appearance as a junior and to the regional final appearance as a senior. She also played on Metroplex and North Dallas junior teams for five years.

Howe graduated in 2001 with a master’s in sports studies from Bemidji State and in 1998 with a bachelor’s in kinesiology from Angelo State. She is a 1994 graduate of Martin High School in Arlington, Texas.

Howe says, “This is a great opportunity and I believe we can be successful for many years to come."