Olivia Strode has been named the new head volleyball coach at Washington High School.
A familiar face around the WHS volleyball program, Strode played for the Lady Jays and has been a member of the coaching staff for the last three years. She replaces Lindsay Moritz, who stepped down following the 2022 season.
A 2014 graduate of Washington High School, Strode previously served as Washington’s junior varsity volleyball coach for the last two seasons. She was the freshman coach for one season before that. She also has coached seventh-grade volleyball at Washington Middle School for three years.
“I’m really excited and grateful for this opportunity. I’m very passionate about coaching because of my love for volleyball. I have a desire to teach others,” Strode said. “I want to help others succeed, not only in sports, but in every aspect of life, whether it’s my students or my players. Coaching allows me to do that. I have the ability to motivate my players. My knowledge of volleyball and being a positive mentor in my players’ lives gets me really excited. I want to constantly be involved with volleyball, whether it’s playing or coaching.”
“We are very excited to have Olivia taking over the volleyball program. She brings with her a vast knowledge of the game and a passion for the sport,” said WHS Activities Director Bill Deckelman. “She also bleeds blue and white from her playing days and now most recently, teaching elementary education and assisting with the high school and middle school volleyball programs.”
Strode was a standout volleyball player at Washington High. She was a three-year letter winner on the varsity level, earning all-conference honors while playing for Kym Blankenship. She went on to play volleyball at East Central College for two years.
Following her time at ECC, Strode attended Missouri State University in Springfield. She played on MSU’s first ever beach volleyball team, and she also played club volleyball at the school.
“Playing indoor volleyball and beach volleyball has given me knowledge for both,” Strode said. “It’s so different, but I want the girls to learn how to play beach volleyball, too. Just training over the summer would help them become better at the indoor game.”
Strode currently is a third grade teacher at Labadie Elementary. She’s been with the School District of Washington for four years. She previously was a teacher at Marthasville Elementary for two years and Washington West Elementary for one year.
Strode holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Missouri State University and will complete her Master’s Degree in July in Educational Administration from Lindenwood University.
To say Strode has a passion for volleyball would be an understatement.
“I remember playing volleyball in high school and watching Coach Blankenship coach, I told myself that I wanted to be in that role someday. That’s really what led me into teaching,” Strode said. “I love going to the camps and teaching the little girls how to play volleyball. Whether it’s middle school or high school, I just love volleyball. I can’t stay away from it. I can’t imagine my life without volleyball.”
To be the head volleyball coach at her alma mater is icing on the cake for Strode.
“I’m so excited to get the chance to be the head volleyball coach at Washington. I can’t imagine myself coaching anywhere else. Lindsay was a great mentor. I played with her and I coached with her. I’ve had a lot of great mentors,” Strode said. “I want our program to become more of a Blue Jay family. I want our program to be together and support other teams and other activities that are going on at the high school. It’s a great team building experience. That’s what we did at Missouri State. It was fun to go see the other teams play and cheer them on. That includes sports, or a band event, or whatever it may be.”
Strode is anxious to get to work in her new role.
“I’m excited about the girls we have in the program,” she said. “The group that will be seniors, I coached them when they were freshmen. Two of them have been with me four years in a row. We’re going to be ready to go and we’re going to have fun.”
Strode Named WHS Volleyball Head Coach
Olivia Strode is the new head coach of the Washington High School volleyball program.
