Volleyball | 6/17/2024 12:34:00 PM

DENTON, Texas (June 17, 2024) – On Monday, the Texas Woman's Athletic Department announced the hiring of Jessica Ransom – the 2023 Sooner Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and South Central Region Coach of the Year at Texas Wesleyan – as the next head coach of Texas Woman's volleyball.

"I am extremely excited to join Texas Woman's Athletics and their volleyball program," Ransom said. "I'd like to thank Sandee Mott and Maddie Seaver for the opportunity and vision they have for the program. TWU is a fantastic place to continue growing after a great 2023 season, and I am excited to get started!"

Ransom joins TWU with experience coaching collegiate, high school and club volleyball.

Most recently, Ransom served as the Head Volleyball Coach at Texas Wesleyan – a member of the NAIA and Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC). While leading the Rams beginning in 2018, Ransom and the Rams qualified for the national tournament for six straight seasons and were ranked in the Top 25 in the NAIA four times. In 2021, the Rams claimed the SAC Regular Season Title and won the SAC Tournament Title in 2023. She is a two-time SAC Coach of the Year and South Central Region Coach the Year. During her time at Texas Wesleyan, she coached eight All-Americans and 36 All-Conference players. Ransom and the Rams finished the 2023 season 26-6. In 2020, Ransom guided the team to an 18-5 record, tying the program record for fewest losses in a season.

"I am thrilled to have Coach Ransom join our team," Director of Athletics Sandee Mott said.  "Her record of success everywhere she has been, speaks for itself. Her commitment to student-athlete development, as well as her familiarity with the LSC makes her a great fit, and I am excited to see her continue the momentum our volleyball program is experiencing."

While working as the Head Volleyball Coach, Ransom also served as Texas Wesleyan's Associate Athletic Director for Business Operations and the Senior Women's Administrator. In these roles, she oversaw budgets and facility management and supervised designated sport's personnel and program operations. Additionally, Ransom also assisted with compliance, eligibility certifications and regulations.

Prior to coaching at Texas Wesleyan, Ransom served as the Head Volleyball Coach and CTE Teacher with Burleson Independent School District for the 2016, 2017 and 2018 seasons. In 2017, she led her team to the District Championships Title and finished as Bi-District Finalists in 2016 and 2017. Furthermore, in 2017, she was named the Coach of the Year.

Ransom brought high school coaching experience to her Head Coach role at Burleson, as she had served as the Assistant Volleyball Coach at Mansfield Independent School District from 2013-16 and as the Assistant Volleyball Coach at Wichita Falls Independent School District from 2012-13.

While at Mansfield, Ransom helped guide the team to the District Championship Title in 2015 and the Regional Semifinals in 2014 and 2015. In 2015, she and the Mansfield Coaching Staff were honored as the Staff of the Year. She assisted in coaching several high school athletes who went on to play volleyball at the Division I, Division II and JUCO levels. She also worked as a CTE Teacher while at Mansfield.

Prior to Mansfield, Ransom served as the Interim Head Volleyball Coach at Wichita Falls, while also serving as an Elementary Physical Education Teacher.

Ransom got her start in collegiate coaching at Tarleton State University from 2010-12, while the Texans were a member of the Lone Star Conference. She served as an Assistant Volleyball Coach and Kinesiology Instructor. In her role, she helped guide recruiting efforts for the Texans, handled game day and film set up and also oversaw their academic success. During her time at Tarleton, the Texans were the LSC Tournament Semifinalists.

Ransom has experience coaching club volleyball with NRG, Madfrog, Club Texas and TVC.  She has assisted in leading volleyball camps at Baylor, Tarleton, Midwestern State and Texas Wesleyan. She is a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association and the Texas Girl's Coaches Association.

Her familiarity with Division II and the LSC began as a student-athlete, when she played as an outside hitter at Midwestern State from 2005-08. During her time with the Mustangs, she was a two-time LSC Offensive Player of the Week and a member of the LSC Commissioner's Honor Roll. As a senior in 2008, she started 30 matches as an outside hitter, was second on the team in kills per set (2.75) and first on the team in hitting percentage (.262). During her junior season, she recorded a career high 17 service aces in a season.

From Wichita Falls, Texas, she played high school volleyball at Wichita Falls High School where she was a three-time First Team All-District 5-4A selection, earned Academic All-State Honors as a senior and also played varsity basketball for two seasons.

Ransom graduated from Midwestern State with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. Then, she obtained her Master of Science in Health and Human Performance from Texas A&M – Commerce.

Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Operations Madison Seaver, who serves as the sport supervisor for volleyball, said Ransom's passion for the total success of our student-athletes will positively impact TWU.

"We are so excited to welcome Coach Jessica Ransom to our team," Seaver said. "Her passion for the game and dedication to the sport are inspiring, and we can't wait to see the incredible impact she will have on our student-athletes, the volleyball program and the Athletics Department as a whole."

Ransom becomes the 11th Head Coach in TWU Volleyball program history, following Jeff Huebner. Huebner served as the Head Volleyball Coach from 2017-23. Most recently, Huebner guided the Pioneers to a historical season, including a return to the LSC Tournament and South Central Regional rankings. Huebner now serves as the Head Volleyball Coach at Palm Beach Atlantic.

"I want to thank Coach Huebner for his efforts and dedication to Pioneer volleyball," Mott said. "We all wish him and his family the very best at Palm Beach Atlantic."