The Howard Payne athletic department announced today the hiring of Howard Payne alumni Colleen Westfall as head volleyball coach.

Colleen Westfall comes to Howard Payne from Bangs high school in Bangs, Texas where she served as the head volleyball coach for the past two seasons.

“We are excited to have Coach Westfall join the Howard Payne family,” said assistant director of athletics Troy Drummond. “I am confident that she will take the reins of the volleyball program and take it to the next level.”

Coach Westfall led Bangs high school to a district championship last season with a 21-8 overall record. The team earned a Bi-District Championship and was an Area Finalist. In 2012, Bangs was District Runner-up and a Bi-District Finalist under her direction.

“I am excited to be at Howard Payne,” said Colleen. “I am ready to coach at the next level and up for the challenge. I am also excited about the women that are already a part of the program and I am enthusiastic about its future.”

Before Bangs, she was the assistant volleyball coach at Llano high school in Llano, Texas from 2009 to 2012. There she helped lead the team to the 2008 Regional Quarter Finals. She spent one season as the head volleyball coach at Santa Anna high school leading them to a 15-8 overall record in 2008.

Colleen transferred to HPU in 2006 after starting two seasons for the NCAA-II Midwestern State University volleyball team. Before graduating from Howard Payne in 2008 with a Bachelors of Science degree, Colleen played for the 2006 Lady Jacket basketball team that went to the second round of the NCAA national tournament.

The 2003 graduate of Wimberley high school will begin her duties at Howard Payne starting July 1st.