Volleyball Coaches

Head Coach

Jay Howell

jay.p.howell@svcc.edu

Jay Howell is a seven-time Region 4 Coach of the Year and has compiled a record of 367–189 in his 14 seasons at SVCC. Howell’s Skyhawks have won eight Arrowhead Conference regular-season championships. They have qualified for the NJCAA Division II National Tournament seven times (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2023), placing 6^th in 2016, 8^th in 2017, 5^th in 2020 and 5^th in 2021.

SVCC has had 10 All-Americans in Howell’s tenure, including the 2021 National Player of the Year, Michal Willman, and Lacey Eissens in 2023. He has coached 82 combined all-conference and all-region performers, as well as 20 Academic All-Americans.

Prior to coming to the Skyhawks, Howell coached volleyball for 11 years at Newman Central Catholic High School and Excess Volleyball Club. Howell holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois and is employed by American Surveying and Engineering. Jay resides in Dixon with his wife, Sue. They have seven children and 14 grandchildren.

Assistant Coach

Kacey Koch

kacey.m.koch@svcc.edu

Kacey Koch is entering her third year as an assistant volleyball coach for the Skyhawks. The Dixon High School graduate was a setter for SVCC in the 2016 and 2017 seasons, leading the team in assists in 2017 and assists per set in both seasons. She was awarded Region IV All-Tournament Team in 2017. After graduating from Sauk in 2018, Kacey went on to earn her Bachelor of Science/Master of Professional Accountancy from Illinois State University in 2021. She is currently employed by Wipfli LLP as an Audit Staff Accountant.

Team Manager

Baylie Howell