Creston graduate to lead SWCC volleyball
Feb. 7—SOUTHWESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Creston native Brianna Maitlen is headed home to take over at the helm of Southwestern Community College's volleyball program beginning with the team's 2024 season.
Maitlen, a 2013 graduate of Creston High School, has been a middle school counselor and high school volleyball coach for the Sioux City Community School District since 2018.
"We are so excited to have Brianna returning to Creston to lead our volleyball program," stated Kim Bishop, SWCC athletic director. "Her ability to relate to student-athletes will bring stability to the team and her coaching experience has provided an excellent framework to assist as she transitions to coaching at the collegiate level. I can't wait to see what she does with our program."
Returning to Creston is something Maitlen never expected.
"I never thought I would come back to Creston, let alone coach," she said.
The past three years she has coached at West High in Sioux City. Before that she was West High's coach for freshmen and junior varsity teams.
Knowing she played during her high school days, being on the sidelines is drastically different for her.
"One thing is to play it and then describe it as a coach to someone. I had to learn how to verbalize every little thing," she said. "It's a whole different mindset. You watch a lot more that you never saw as a player."
Maitlen's younger sister played volleyball at Southwestern. Brianna's relationship with Southwestern staff is what got her to consider returning.
"I was not looking for this. I love everyone who I have worked with at Sioux City," she said. "They (SWCC) kept telling me, 'I think you can turn this program around.' Maybe this presented itself for a reason."
Maitlen expects up to five returning players next year.
"We need to recruit. We need to bring the love of volleyball back to Southwestern," she said.
Maitlen said she takes great pride in assisting her teams reach their full potential and she enjoys providing them with support, guidance, and motivation.
"I plan to bring to SWCC a non-stop, can-do, positive attitude," said Maitlen. "The passion I have for the game, coupled with the hometown energy and excitement of Creston, will be huge assets in building back a strong volleyball program at Southwestern."
Maitlen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with a minor in coaching and sports psychology in 2016 and a Master of Science degree in education with emphasis on school counseling in 2018, both from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri.
She will begin recruiting for the fall volleyball season immediately.
