The Panther Coaching Staff

Becca played volleyball all through high school and loves the game. She has been coaching for Panthers for the past six years and has experience coaching at every level from junior high to varsity.  She also coached club volleyball for several years.  Her goal is to help each girl improve her volleyball skills, help them play well together as a team and above all honor God while doing so.  

Clara has been playing and coaching volleyball with the Panthers for more than ten years. Since her first season coaching in 2016, she has coached both JH and JV level teams, training new and established players alike. 

As a coach, Clara aims to support and encourage her teams while pushing them to be their best selves both on and off the court. Her coaching philosophy is centered around building confidence, character, identity, endurance, and strength, and she strives to instill these values in her players through her volleyball.

Outside of volleyball, Clara loves painting, growing things, and all forms of storytelling. She works as an Administrative Assistant and Social Media Manager for several organizations. 

Jim Denner has been coaching volleyball since 1996 at Lindbergh H.S., then began coaching  Homeschool volleyball in 2011.  Although he was a baseball coach prior to '96, he found a lot of similarities in the biomechanics used in both baseball and volleyball.  He has always loved coaching and strives to instill the joy of team sports while playing in a manner pleasing to our Creator.  

Michelle has been coaching volleyball for the Panthers since 2019.  Prior to that, she was the head girls' volleyball coach at Ft Zumwalt West High school.  She played collegiate volleyball for the University of Alabama where she earned her Secondary Education degree.  She earned a degree in Physical Therapy and worked for a local hospital for 15 years.  Currently she homeschools her 3 daughters and coaches volleyball, basketball and track in the homeschool community. 

Her coaching philosophy is to teach and improve skill while helping the athlete learn to love the game!  Volleyball is the ultimate teamwork sport and she emphasizes the importance of being a good teammate. The most enjoyable part of coaching is seeing an athlete smile when they apply a new skill successfully.  Michelle is actively involved with the youth group and teaching youth classes at West End church of Christ, where her husband, Matt serves as the minister.  

Matt has been a varsity boys volleyball coach for 5 years and varsity girls volleyball coach for 4 years at Ft Zumwalt West High School.  He is currently a weight training teacher and has been in education for 15 years. Matt has coached youth sports for the past 10 years.  His coaching philosophy is to help and athlete develop a love and appreciation for the game of volleyball.  The most enjoyable part of coaching is seeing an athlete maximize their talent and achieve success in the sport they love.  

Matt also currently coaches basketball for the St. Louis Lady Knights for teams ages 9-14.  Matt is also the minister for the West End church of Christ.  In his spare time, he enjoys studying the Bible, lifting weights and spending time with his wife and 3 daughters.      

Diane has played volleyball for many, many years (from 4th grade through college and beyond). Her volleyball coaching experience has been limited to the Panther program (since 2015). As what many people call a “seasoned saint”, Diane feels led to pour what she knows into younger Christian women (volleyball skills, but more importantly, biblical wisdom to help them grow in their faith). Diane has been married to Larry for over 30 years and has 3 adult children. Her first grandchild is due soon.

Susie Aulgur is a Panthers’ Alum who loves volleyball and giving back to the Panther girls who are a bit younger than her. Susie believes that it is imperative that women have godly role models to look up to as well as young women to encourage in Christ. Susie’s wish is that she would build relationships with her girls and draw them closer to Christ, as her coaches did for her.   

Susie is 19 years old and has loved volleyball for as long as she can remember. As a girl, she would go outside for hours at a time with her old volleyball and practice her ball control. Susie lived in a town where homeschoolers had no opportunity to play volleyball so she is excited to be able to give other young girls that chance. Currently, Susie is a manager for a nonprofit, coffee shop in Truesdale, MO. Susie loves drinking coffee, going on spontaneous adventures with friends, reading good books, and working with young kids. 

George Bruns has had a love of volleyball from a very young age. After playing in Highschool for all four years, he has been a coach and ultimate cheerleader for his now 15 year old neice who plays for her Highschool and club team. He was convicted that coaching the Panthers would be a great new challenge as he wishes to help youth find their way in faith and in volleyball. He believes that Volleyball can be a life long sport that can keep you healthy. His biggest hope is that his passion for volleyball can transfer unto everyone he coaches. 

At 19 years old, Rebecca has been with the Panthers for 8 years. Growing up in the Panther community, she started as a cheerleader on the sidelines for her sister’s games, then followed in their footsteps to play for the Panthers. Eight years later, she was named all tournament player at Nationals. Outside of volleyball, Becca works as a jeweler and is a full time nanny. She loves to read, especially fantasy, and paddle boards at Creve Coeur Lake whenever she can. She also loves to exploring the world through travel. Currently, Rebecca is attending college at STLCC (St. Louis Community College) and has aspirations of becoming a certified diagnostic sonographer.