Meet the 2023 Coaches!
- Girls head coaches-
Jessica Hatfield
Varsity head coach
Jess has been coaching volleyball for 15 years in the homeschool community and at the college level. Both volleyball and basketball have had an incredible impact on Jess’ walk with the Lord. She had always heard “we need to play for Gods glory” but didn’t truly understand what that meant until attending Calvary Bible College. While there she gained a passion for helping people understand ways to bring God glory with practical application. Jess hopes she can show girls just how life changing it can be when you bring God with you onto the court. When Jess isn’t coaching she enjoys doing adventurous things like traveling or indoor rock climbing, hanging with her husband, spending time with her 2 dogs, and drinking coffee.
Emma Swanson
jv1 head coach
Emma has been involved in the Homeschool Volleyball world for over a decade, playing for 6 years before jumping into the coaching world in 2017. She has led her own team since 2018 and has loved watching the girls grow as players and young women over the years. Her favorite part of coaching is being able to bring a group of girls together and help them learn how to work together, play competitively, and most importantly encourage one another no matter the circumstances. One fun fact about Emma is she has traveled to Europe 3 times and is always planning her next trip, ask her about it next time you see her!
Hannah Miszuk
jv2 head coach
Hannah played volleyball for 8 years before graduating high school in 2022. As her years were coming to an end as a player she started pursuing the desire to coach and is very excited to be able to return the favor that she received as a player for so many years. She was positively impacted through volleyball by her coaches pushing her to be a hard worker, team player, leader, and most importantly to glorify the Lord on and off the court. Outside of volleyball she enjoys traveling, being outdoors and having serious conversations about the walk of faith.
Summer Anderson
Varsity Assistant coach
Bio coming soon!
Chris Woodhouse
JV1 Assistant coach
Chris has a true passion for coaching. Whether it be volleyball, basketball, business or just life in general, being part of the “light bulb” moments brings great joy and satisfaction to Chris. For over 22 years he has been a part of the volleyball community, coaching multiple teams, playing in A and AA level hardcourt leagues, and even playing tri-ball and other fun volleyball spinoffs. Chris sees being on the lightning coaching staff as an honor and wonderful opportunity to serve the next generation.
April Buttermore
Junior High Advisor
April has had a long love of sports stretching long before her days when she played in college. However, that sport was basketball, not volleyball. Never did she expect to be into another sport until her daughter Emma decided to play volleyball in 5th grade and they needed a coach. Ever since then, April has served as an elementary coach all the way up to the varsity level. And while she enjoys it all, she really loves being able to work with the youngest girls, helping them to have fun and develop as athletes. April will walk alongside our Junior High coaching staff as she shares her passion and knowledge with the next generation of Lightning players!
Maggie Barton
jh8 coach
Maggie has been playing with Omaha Lightning for the past 8 years and says “it has been a wonderful experience!” She can’t wait to coach the next generation of players and watch their skills flourish. She’s also excited to see how they will learn how to play volleyball for the Lord! “I am so excited for this upcoming year!”
Darcie Bickel
jh8 coach
Darcie got hooked on volleyball at a young age, and has stayed connected to it ever since. Darcie played homeschool volleyball for 8 years, and has coached for one season. She most enjoyed the lessons she learned through playing sports, and she’s grateful for the coaches she had that made it a priority to play for God’s glory, rather than playing for ourselves. Darcie hopes to make a similar impact on the lives of young girls; and remind them that it’s not just about winning and losing, but rather, “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Jordan Shippy
jh7 coach
Jordan played volleyball with Omaha Lightning for 5 years. She discovered a love for teaching and looks forward to equipping her team for anything both on and off the court. “I’m excited to be able to step into the same role as those who had a positive influence in my life!”
Anna Kuck
jh7 Assistant coach
Anna has been around volleyball for a many years. Having played in high school and college, then several years of co-ed league, she has never lost her love for the game. She has coached high school jv as well as several YMCA teams. She is excited to see players develop skills and loves the respect the Lightning players have for the coaches as well as each other!
Laura Hawkins
jh6 coach
Laura has been in love with volleyball since she started playing in 5th grade. She has been an assistant coach for two years and has enjoyed watching the girls grow in so many ways through the sport of volleyball- in skills, virtue, and athleticism. Her priorities for her team are to glorify God, develop godly character through the challenges of athletic competition, grow in skill, and lastly, to win!
- boys coaches-
Heather Heffernan
Boys varsity head coach
Heather has been playing volleyball since she was 10 years old. She’s coached elementary, junior high, high school girls for nine years, and now boys for one! She is excited to continue working and building the boys program at lightning. She wants to continue to grow interest in the sport for boys in the Omaha area. She says “The men’s volleyball game is so much different than women’s, and I’m excited to continue learning about this as a coach and teaching the boys that I work with.” Her goal for this season is to work with the boys and teach them basic volleyball skills, help them learn how to work effectively as a team, and to encourage them to take risks and push themselves to an even higher level of volleyball.
Carolyn Friesen
Varsity assistant coach
Carolyn’s love for volleyball first started as a player in both high school and college. When her own girls were old enough to play, she jumped right back into the volleyball world as their coach. She has coached with Lightning Volleyball for 14 years at all stages from Junior High to Varsity. After a brief break, her youngest son decided to give it a shot the second year of the boys program and Carolyn jumped right back into the coaching world this time as a boys assistant coach. She absolutely loves the sport of volleyball and enjoys being able to share that love with the next generation, boys and girls. She believes there are many invaluable biblical and life lessons that can be learned through playing sports. She is excited to help the boys learn and develop into young men through their experience at Lightning.
Jason Backens
JV Head coach
Jason has had a passion for volleyball as long as he can remember and has spent years of his life studying and understanding the game. He loves to help others learn and finds joy when he can see them succeed. Jason has been coaching with us since 2021 and is enthusiastic about stepping into a new role as a head coach. He is excited to be a part of a program that is working to exemplify Christ and looks forward to seeing how the Lord will work in the lives of the boys he has the opportunity to coach. He hopes to encourage his players to have a God-honoring attitude, through both the wins and the losses.
Grace Heffernan
JV assistant coach
Grace has been around volleyball her whole life. It all began when she was young and would watch her parents play games. She started playing in 6th grade at a Christian school and played there throughout all of junior high and high school. She got involved with Lightning a couple years her mother coach and even took stats for the boys varsity team last year. She knew she wanted to stay in the sport even if she couldn’t play all the time so decided she would follow in her mother’s footsteps and help coach the JV boys team with Lightning.
Trey Swanson
Coaching Director & Board Member
Father, coach, player – all roles Trey has filled throughout his time as a homeschooling dad. He’s made being a part of his kids’ athletic journey a priority for 10 years. He’s coached his youngest son at Lightning Basketball, plays with his older son in adult basketball leagues, and enjoys coaching alongside his daughter, Emma, in volleyball. Trey values home school athletics for the the numerous Godly character building opportunities competitive sports present as well as the long term friendships he sees develop in the players.
If you or someone you know has an interest in coaching please let us know at: omahalightningvb@gmail.com
Our coaches are volunteers. Parents will be asked to help provide logistical support. If you feel you have a skill that you could use to help the program, please let us know.
Also, many of our coaches have full-time jobs (and/or are full-time college students) and are taking personal time from their families to support our program. Please remember this, and stay flexible. We stress to our players that all we do reflects who we are in Christ.