Volleyball Coaching Staff

Mary Penrod, Head Volleyball Coach

Mary Penrod will begin her sixth season as the head Evangel volleyball coach in 2005. Penrod shared the head coaching duties with Dawn Neal in 2000 before taking over the program in 2001. In addition, Penrod will begin her secind year as the director of the Mabee Student Fitness Center. She served as the assistant director of the center for 4 1/2 years. Penrod also teaches in the Evangel Physical Education Department and was the assistant softball coach for two years (1999-2000).

A 1997 graduate of MidAmerica Nazarene University, Penrod is currently enrolled in graduate school at Evangel and is studying clinical psychology.

Penrod earned three letters in volleyball and three letters in softball at MidAmerica Nazarene. Penrod was a first-team All-Heart of America Athletic Conference softball pick in 1997 after earning second-team honors in 1995 and 1996. She was also a NCCAA All-America softball selection her senior year. Penrod earned NCCAA All-District softball honors in 1997 and was the MidAmerica Nazarene softball team MVP three years in a row. As a senior catcher, Penrod hit .477 with 13 doubles, a conference-leading five home runs, and 41 RBI. She turned in a .958 fielding average with just six errors behind the plate in 144 chances.

Penrod also excelled as a student at MidAmerica Nazarene. She was named a NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete in 1996 and again in 1997.

As a prep athlete, Penrod won three volleyball and three softball letters at Burlington ( Iowa) High School. She also lettered two years in basketball and was a four-year track letter winner. Penrod earned all-district and all-conference honors as a volleyball and softball player at Burlington and was an all-conference basketball performer. She graduated from Burlington in 1992.