Creston, IOWA—A head coaching contract for Alyssa Jeffrey, volleyball coach at Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs and former assistant coach at Iowa Western Community College, was approved during Tuesday evening’s Southwestern Community College board of directors meeting.
During her time coaching at Iowa Western, from 2021-23, the Reivers finished as national champions. In addition, the team earned a conference championship and coached a two-time NJCAA National Player of the Year. Jeffrey assisted under a two-time NJCAA National Coach of the Year. During her time, the Reivers were three-time regional and conference champs.
At Abraham Lincoln, Jeffrey’s teams finished as conference runner-up in 2023, as well as district runner-up in 2023 and 2024. She has had four players continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level.
Cole Higgins, Southwestern’s athletic director, said Jeffrey will be a great asset to the culture Southwestern athletics is building within its department.
“Alyssa has experience in high-level volleyball programs. In talking to her, it’s quickly apparent she has expectations for her student-athletes on and off the court, and does her part in building a culture of success.”
Jeffrey has coached club teams, including the Top Ten Volleyball Club in Council Bluffs and the Legacy Volleyball Club in Elkhorn, Nebraska.
Jeffrey said she is a firm believer that sports and working as a team help prepare student-athletes for life.
“Sports build character,” Jeffrey said. “They teach us how to grow and overcome adversity, and how to handle circumstances with class and dignity.”
Jeffrey said she strives to build and maintain teams of hard workers who hold themselves and others accountable, respect one another and those around them, and commit to goals they set as a team.
In addition to coaching at Abraham Lincoln, Jeffrey has been an assistant track coach, provided wrestling support, and worked as a behavior management specialist.
Jeffrey, originally from Sumner, Nebraska, earned an Associate of Arts degree from Iowa Western in 2013 and a bachelor’s degree in educational studies from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.
She will begin recruiting for Southwestern volleyball immediately.