‘Having the ability to inspire’: Skutt Catholic volleyball coach discusses importance of women coaches

"Having two females in the coaching profession that I looked up to and just made the experience great and got to know us as people, they could relate to us really well," Saunders said.

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FEMALE ATHLETES NEED FEMALE LEADERS. SO ON THIS NATIONAL GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY, A LESSON IN MENTORING. KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S IZZY FUNFAIR DEUEL LOOKS AT THE NEED FOR WOMEN COACHES. BASKETBALL. VOLLEYBALL, SOFTBALL, YOU NAME IT. RENEE SAUNDERS PLAYED IT. DO YOU PLAY SPORTS GROWING UP? ALL OF THEM. ALL OF THEM? YES. SAUNDERS HAD WOMEN COACHES WHO SHE SAYS INSPIRED HER TO BE WHERE SHE IS NOW. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE NET, AS THE HEAD VOLLEYBALL COACH FOR SKUTT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL. HAVING TWO FEMALES IN THE COACHING PROFESSION THAT I LOOKED UP TO AND JUST MADE THE EXPERIENCE GREAT AND GOT TO KNOW US AS PEOPLE COULD RELATE TO US REALLY WELL. SHE SAYS THERE’S A LACK OF FEMALE COACHES IN HIGH SCHOOL, A FEELING THAT’S ECHOED AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL TOO. A LOT OF WOMEN LEAVE THE FIELD BECAUSE OF SOCIETAL SOCIETY. THINGS LIKE CHILDREN, MARRIAGES, MOVING FOR YOUR SPOUSE, THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT’S WHERE WE COACH COMES IN. THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS FEMALE COACHES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, HELPING THEM BECOME ROLE MODELS FOR THEIR ATHLETES. THE TYPE OF IMPACT THAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT IS THESE WOMEN COACHES HAVING THE ABILITY TO INSPIRE THESE YOUNG GIRLS AND THESE YOUNG WOMEN TO CATCH A VISION FOR THEIR OWN CAREER. THE COACHES ALSO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, TRAINING TIPS, CONDITIONING PLANS. WHENEVER YOU GO TO A CONFERENCE, A CLINIC, A WORKSHOP, YOU’RE LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER, SO YOU’RE FINDING OUT WHAT MAKES THE BEST BEST YOU KNOW. WHERE CAN YOU GET BETTER? SAUNDERS SAYS IN THE VOLLEYBALL STATE, WOMEN COACHES ARE MAKING AN IMPACT AND THEY’RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE. JOIN US. COME JOIN US. COME BE A PART OF IT. I THINK IT’S THE NEXT THING. SHE SAYS FEMALE ATHLETES WILL ALWAYS NEED FEMALE LEADERS

‘Having the ability to inspire’: WeCOACH supports female coaches

Updated: 10:22 PM CST Feb 4, 2026

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Basketball, volleyball, softball — you name it, Renee Saunders has played it.Throughout her career, Saunders said she had several women coaches who inspired her to be where she is now, on the other side of the net as the head volleyball coach at Skutt Catholic High School.”Having two females in the coaching profession that I looked up to and just made the experience great and got to know us as people, they could relate to us really well,” Saunders said.She said there’s a lack of female coaches in high school, and it’s a feeling echoed at the college level.”A lot of women leave the field because of societal things like children, marriages, moving for your spouse, things like that,” said Carolyn Bray, head softball coach at College of Saint Mary.That’s where WeCOACH comes in. It’s an organization that supports female coaches across the country, helping them become role models for their athletes.”The type of impact that we’re talking about is these women coaches having the ability to inspire these young girls and these young women to catch a vision for their own career,” WeCOACH CEO Vaness Fuchs said.The coaches also learn from other, sharing tactics for mental health support, training tips and conditioning plans.”Whenever you go to a conference, a clinic or a workshop, you’re learning from each other,” Saunders said. “You’re finding out what makes the best, the best. You know, where can you get better?”Saunders said in the volleyball state, women coaches are making an impact, and they’re always looking for more.”Join us. Come join us, come be part of it,” Saunders said, “I think it’s the next thing.”Saunders said female athletes will always need female leaders to look up to. WeCOACH is supporting those leaders so they can continue to train strong athletes, coaches and womenMake sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |

OMAHA, Neb. —

Basketball, volleyball, softball — you name it, Renee Saunders has played it.

Throughout her career, Saunders said she had several women coaches who inspired her to be where she is now, on the other side of the net as the head volleyball coach at Skutt Catholic High School.

“Having two females in the coaching profession that I looked up to and just made the experience great and got to know us as people, they could relate to us really well,” Saunders said.

She said there’s a lack of female coaches in high school, and it’s a feeling echoed at the college level.

“A lot of women leave the field because of societal things like children, marriages, moving for your spouse, things like that,” said Carolyn Bray, head softball coach at College of Saint Mary.

That’s where WeCOACH comes in. It’s an organization that supports female coaches across the country, helping them become role models for their athletes.

“The type of impact that we’re talking about is these women coaches having the ability to inspire these young girls and these young women to catch a vision for their own career,” WeCOACH CEO Vaness Fuchs said.

The coaches also learn from other, sharing tactics for mental health support, training tips and conditioning plans.

“Whenever you go to a conference, a clinic or a workshop, you’re learning from each other,” Saunders said. “You’re finding out what makes the best, the best. You know, where can you get better?”

Saunders said in the volleyball state, women coaches are making an impact, and they’re always looking for more.

“Join us. Come join us, come be part of it,” Saunders said, “I think it’s the next thing.”

Saunders said female athletes will always need female leaders to look up to. WeCOACH is supporting those leaders so they can continue to train strong athletes, coaches and women

Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.