AC employs new volleyball coaches

By XIADANI TERRAZAS Student Reporter

Amarillo College has a new head women’s volleyball coach, Scott Sandel. He replaced former head coach Amanda Black who resigned after leading the Badgers to a 16-15 record in their 2022 season. Sandel selected Meagan Ellis as his assistant coach.

“I am thrilled to have Sandel join our coaching staff here at Amarillo College,” Athletic Director Mark White said.

“I am confident that our volleyball program will thrive under his leadership. Sandel having enthusiasm for the game and dedication to winning and wanting academic success for his student-athletes is an exciting combination. I can not wait to see what the future holds.”

Sandel was the head volleyball coach at Tascosa High School from 2006-2013. He guided teams to the regional quarterfinals in six consecutive seasons. Sandel was also an assistant coach under Kim Hudson in 1990 when the Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M University captured the NCAA Division II national championship. He also served as the head women’s volleyball coach for the NCAA division I programs at Northern Michigan University. Sandel’s team made the NCAA post-season tourney.

“I am excited to be back in the Panhandle,” Sandel said.

“It is really good to be home. I look forward to building the Amarillo College volleyball team into the sort of program everyone involved will be proud of.”

Sandel was an assistant coach at the University of South Carolina, where the team reached the NCAA tournament. In 2022, he served as head coach and specialized training director for Frisco Flyers Volleyball. Sandel has had numerous successful club teams and has nine regional club championships to his credit.

“Our goals are very simple,” Sandel said. “We want to be a competitive volleyball team every time we step on the floor. We want to be a quality program that represents Amarillo College and Amarillo. The team is doing a great job. They are working hard and working on becoming a good team.”

Sandel said the newest thing about AC’s volleyball is the Badger Clinics summer volleyball camp, and a new gym. “We are trying to build a crowd at our home matches. We need a band and students in the stands,” said Sandel.

“A few of my goals include making the National Tournament and teaching the girls life lessons through volleyball,” Meagan Ellis, assistant coach said. “This is my first year as a college volleyball coach. The job and position are new to me, but volleyball has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I love learning more about the sport through being a coach.”

Ellis played volleyball collegiately at Southern Nazarene University from 20172021. She brings club playing and coaching experience to the volleyball team. Ellis also is the head coach of Amarillo Xtreme 17s.

He was intimidated about going into Teach Club, and Nathan Bernal was the friendly face that helped him make the final step through the door.

Bernal is an education major. According to Bernal, he has always had a knack with kids that dates back to when he was a teenager, and his younger cousins always wanted to hang out with him.

He really got to sink his teeth in when he participated in a class called instructional practices and education training, IPET, in high school. He got to experience teaching three-year-olds.

While in this class, he had a teacher that became his mentor and guided him into the field of education, where he plans to teach fourth through eighth-grade math.

After Bernal started college at West Texas A&M, he did not feel a part of the communi- ty there, so he took some time off and worked as a manager at a swimming pool. Eventually, the tug to educate young minds pulled him back, and he decided to try Amarillo College.

Bernal’s life at college really expanded when he stepped out of his comfort zone and took the position of Student Ambassador for the College of Education. One of the requirements of the job was to be in Teach Club. Though hesitant to join at first, he soon became the president of the club.

He works with the Maverick Boys and Girls Club after-school program at Hamlet Elementary School.

“Nathan has a desire to give back and work with kids,” Rochelle Fouts, education instructor, said. “Men in education is a rarity.”

Bernal said his biggest motivations are family, faith and the students from the Maverick Boys and Girls Club.

“He’s getting into the field,” Dennis Sarine, director of teacher preparation and early childhood education at AC, said. “He’s a role model.” Even on the rough days, Bernal said the kids completely surprise him. For example, on Valentine’s Day, he received notes from them saying how much they appreciated him.

His mentors in the education department are supportive of him and his future as an educator of young children.

“He has a passion for teaching students,” Trena Rider, instructor and coordinator for early childhood education, said. “We talk on a regular basis and brainstorm wonderful ways to support young learners.”