Bethel College has announced the hiring of Brittany VanRoyen as the next head coach of the Thresher volleyball program.
VanRoyen comes to Bethel after serving as the Head Volleyball Coach and Assistant Athletic Director at Pratt Community College. During her time at Pratt, she focused on rebuilding the program while emphasizing academic achievement, competitive growth, and long-term development of student-athletes.
Prior to Pratt, VanRoyen gained collegiate coaching experience as an assistant at Highland Community College and Garden City Community College. While at Highland, the program achieved a top-15 national ranking, finishing the season with a 17–6 overall record and earning multiple all-conference and all-district honors. At Garden City, VanRoyen helped guide a program turnaround, improving competitive results while also raising the team GPA and placing several athletes at four-year institutions.
VanRoyen also brings strong club coaching experience, having served as head coach for FSC Cougars Volleyball in Wichita. Her work at the club level strengthened her recruiting network and player development approach, particularly within the Kansas region.
Athletic Director Tim Swartzendruber expressed confidence in VanRoyen's leadership and fit with Bethel.
"I am very excited to have Brittany become our next volleyball coach. I was fortunate to work with her at Pratt Community College and I watched how dedicated she was to the program and what a great recruiter she was. When searching for a new coach, finding someone who you believe will fit your institution is extremely important and I believe Brittany will be an excellent fit at Bethel College. She is fully aware of the strong tradition of volleyball at Bethel and she is committed to continuing the program's success."
VanRoyen shared her excitement about joining the Thresher program and building on recent success.
"The success this program experienced last season speaks volumes about the people and commitment already in place. I'm grateful for the opportunity to build on that foundation and cultivate a culture that reflects Bethel's values while continuing to compete at a high level."
A former collegiate volleyball player, VanRoyen brings a player-centered perspective to her coaching philosophy, emphasizing culture, accountability, and growth on and off the court. She takes over a Bethel volleyball program with a strong tradition and looks forward to leading the Threshers into the next chapter.
