Jen Ray

COACHING EXPERIENCE:
Jen’s coaching journey began after college at St. Bavo Catholic School where she continued building her experience as a volunteer coach at Schmucker Middle School under Coach Murphy before spending several years coaching at the high school level at Michiana Volleyball Academy.

Her coaching path eventually took a different direction as Jen pursued a career in law enforcement with the City of South Bend. In 2002, she married a Marine Corps Officer and began a new chapter that took her family around the world. While living overseas in Japan, Jen remained connected to volleyball and returned to the States and the sidelines in 2009 as the Assistant Varsity/JV Coach at New Palestine High School outside Indianapolis.

The military had other plans for her family until 2017 when she found her way back to the sport in Aberdeen, North Carolina, where Jen coached for four years. In 2022 with her husband and  daughter, they returned to her hometown, giving her the opportunity to reconnect with the volleyball community that gave so much to her.

Jen’s volleyball path became full circle in 2022 coaching for the Network Volleyball Club under Steve Anderson. In 2025, Jen joined NIVA, where she is excited to continue to develop volleyball athletes—coaching, mentoring, building confidence, and helping athletes become not only better volleyball players, but better teammates and young women.

For Jen, coaching goes beyond wins and losses. It is about creating an environment where athletes are challenged, supported, and encouraged to believe in themselves and thrive. Volleyball has taken her through many chapters of her life, and she is grateful that it has continued to bring her back to the court and the hometown Jen loves.