Sandy Arnold is new volleyball coach
Not only will Sandy Arnold be a new face at Hillsboro Elementary School library, but she also will be a new face on the volleyball court — at least new at Hillsboro High School.
Arnold was hired in May to replace retiring elementary school librarian Carolyn Penner, and the volleyball coaching fell in with the job.
"I'm excited about the job in the library," Arnold said. "I hope to do some new and different things."
She wants to focus on lessons that teach literacy skills and team teach with teachers using technology. Arnold received her master's in library science from Emporia State University in May 2004.
"I love using technology, and I love children's books and love to share them," Arnold said.
She comes to Hillsboro from Canton-Galva where she was in charge of three libraries.
When Arnold isn't in HES library, she likely will be in Brown gym. As new head coach of the Trojans, she inherits a team that was 17 and 10 last season under the direction of Tina King.
Arnold, a graduate of Moundridge High School and Bethel College where she played volleyball for two years and basketball for four years, has 13 years of coaching experience. She taught and coached in Miltonvale for three years before moving to Canton-Galva.
At Canton-Galva, she spent one year as assistant middle school basketball coach and volleyball coach before becoming an assistant volleyball coach at the high school, then the head coach.
"I really wasn't looking to move when the Hillsboro library position opened," she said. "But the position was attractive to me because it is only one library and we will be closer to Todd's family."
Arnold and her husband Todd, a 1986 graduate of Hillsboro High School, are hoping to move to Hillsboro before school starts. They have a son, Kale, who will be in the fourth grade, and a daughter, Shelley, who will be a second grader. They are expecting their third child in November.
Todd Arnold works for Pyle Construction in Wichita and is the son of Don and Kathy Arnold of rural Hillsboro.
One challenge Sandy Arnold faces is making a smooth coaching transition.
"Change is hard for people. I will need to work to gain the respect and trust of these girls," she said. "We have good senior leadership, and girls with good work ethics."
She sees the Hillsboro winning tradition in athletics and the strong, athletic girls on the volleyball team as the key to the success of the program.
"With their talent and work ethic, these girls should do well," said Arnold. "The Hillsboro tradition of doing well in athletics will help take them far."
Arnold also has been working with the girls in the weight room when she can. She has a weight lifting program designed especially for volleyball players.
"In the past, the volleyball team members have had many shoulder and back injuries," she said. "Hopefully, this program will help prevent some of those injuries."
Tina King and Terry Bebermeyer will be assistant coaches for Sandy Arnold.
