Valerie Koch named Head Coach for Raider Volleyball

Pierce College Athletics is pleased to announce Valerie Koch as the new head coach of the highly successful RaidersVolleyball program.

Koch joins the Raiders after three years as the associate head coach at Whatcom Community College (Bellingham, WA). During her three seasons with the Orcas, the team won the North Region regular season title in 2019, and qualified for the NWAC post season three times.

In addition to her experience at Whatcom, Koch has been involved as a coach with several clubs in the North Sound area since 2014, and is currently coaching with the Washington Volleyball Academy, based out of Lynnwood. She served as the junior varsity head coach at Meridian High School, in Bellingham, from 2016-2018. Koch is a graduate of Western Washington University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.

"It is an honor to be joining an elite program, like Pierce,with a strong tradition of competitive greatness," Koch said about her selection as the Raiders next head coach. "I have a strong passion for developing strong athletes and students, who aresuccessful human beings that represent themselves, the school, and their community in the best light. I look forward to working with our Raiderstudent-athletes, and providing opportunities for their personal growth,on and off the court. I want to say a special thank you to all of the coaches who have mentored me and the athletes who have molded me into the coach I am today. Go Raiders!"

"We are very excited to have Valerie join the Raider Family, and are looking forward to her continuing the success the program has experienced over the past five years," said Athletic Director Duncan Stevenson. "Getting a coach of her caliber, who has been such an integral part of one of the most successful volleyball programs in the NWAC, is a huge steal for us. We look forward to Valerie continuing the tradition of success that has placed Raider Volleyball among the elite programs of the NWAC."

The Raiders return 13 players from the 2021 team that won the program's fourth consecutive West Region title, and finished in 3rd Place at the NWAC Championships. The Raiders took 2nd place in 2019, and 3rd place in 2018. The program has compiled league record of 58-3 over the past five seasons, and 141-31 overall.