OPSU Athletics
Justine Gaskamp, Sports Information Director
GOODWELL — Athletic Director Meghan Mulcahy was pleased to acquire a top-quality replacement in an expeditious manner upon the unexpected departure of the Aggie volleyball’s previous head coach. Iowa City native Signe Coombs was eager to take over the program and seeks to supply nothing but positivity, passion and pride within her organization.
The Aggies’ newly appointed head coach expressed intent and appreciation.
“First, I would like to thank Dr. Faltyn, Meghan Mulcahy and their staff for the opportunity to join OPSU Athletics,” Coombs said. “I look forward to bringing a high level of passion, competitiveness and accountability to the OPSU volleyball program. My coaching staff and I will ensure our student-athletes carry themselves with pride, confidence and integrity and build a program that the community can be proud of for years to come.”
A graduate of the University of Iowa, Coombs competed for the Hawkeyes as a member of the NCAA Division I Volleyball program and earned recognition as a scholar athlete. Her collegiate coaching career began at Missouri University of Science and Technology, where her team achieved the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship in 2012 and maintained a cumulative team grade point average of 3.5. From there, she served as an assistant coach at the NCAA Division II level, Missouri Western State, for three years while earning her Master’s Degree. Within her first two years at MWSU, the team celebrated back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in roughly two decades, and posted their first winning season within the MIAA conference since 2000.
In addition to her coaching background, Coombs has proudly served as an Admissions Counselor, Director of Academic Services for Athletics, Senior Women’s Administrator and Associate Athletic Director of Academics, giving her the tools to empower her athletes to be champions on the court, in the classroom and within the community.
Coombs’ focus going into the 2018 season is to maintain a quality program built upon excellence, integrity and service. She states, “I believe that Panhandle State encompasses all of those characteristics, and I am very excited to be able to continue my coaching career at this university.”
As the newest member of the Aggie Family, Coombs has already taken a servant leadership approach with her team, lending helping hands to the local YMCA and churches during a pre-season team service project. “I enjoy the opportunity to collaborate with others to ensure success within our organization and provide service to others. I look forward to serving those at OPSU and our partners within our community.”
Panhandle State President Dr. Tim Faltyn boasts on the entire athletics coaching staff, “Our student athletes are blessed to have such a fine group of individuals at the helm of all of our programs. I truly feel that this group, now more than ever, has the opportunity to really start making major changes that will impact this university for decades to come. With their leadership not only as coaches, but as mentors and pillars in the community, everyone will know about Panhandle State and will want to be a part of the great things going on at this university.”
Coach Coombs staff will consist of Assistant Coach Shelby Bartley who is a panhandle area native from Canyon, Texas. Bartley brings a fresh perspective, having recently graduated from the University of the Southwest in Hobbs, N.M. There she was a member of both the Mustangs’ volleyball and track and field teams, earning scholar athlete honors as well as All-Conference awards in both sports.
“Signe [Coombs] was without a doubt our first choice for the job,” Mulcahy said. “She made great strides for the student success program as our Academic Resource Center Coordinator, and we knew her personality, experience and work ethic would be a perfect fit for this program. I am extremely proud of the coaching staff we have created at Panhandle State, and see nothing but great things in store for Aggie Athletics.”
Coombs is the wife of Aggie Men’s Basketball Head Coach Aaron Coombs. The coaching power couple live in Goodwell and are the proud parents of daughter Adley Marie.