Meet the Panther Coaches

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.      

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. 

When it comes to coaching, Clara’s top priorities are connecting with her players and establishing relationships based in mutual trust and respect, and the character and sportsmanship of each young woman she coaches. She loves spending time with her teams both in season and out, and strives to support and encourage her teams while pushing them to the best of their abilities on court and off. 

Her favorite part of coaching is seeing her players develop and hone new skills. “Seeing players implement a new skill in a practice or a game and then nailing it is one of the best parts of coaching.”  She also enjoys the relationships that she has developed with the girls that she coaches. She considers many of them friends and is excited to see where the Lord takes them in the future. 

When she’s not coaching, Clara works as a web designer and branding specialist, as well as a painting instructor and ministry leader at her church, Grace Church STL. She loves all forms of story-telling and all types of games, including table-top, board, and video games. 

Her favorite verse—and the one she reminds her players of most often—is Psalm 18:19: “He rescued me because He delights in me.” 

Aleah Schad has been coaching for just one season, but is excited and eager for more to come. Aleah's goal and prayer is that she can help her players to be the best player they can be, and to encourage them through life and ultimately their Faith in Jesus.  Aleah genuinely just loves being able to connect with people, parents and other teams through something so simple as a game. Building relationships and having conversations has always been Aleahs favorite thing about playing and coaching volleyball. 

Aleah is 18 years old and is the sixth child of seven, and loves every second of it! Aleah loves to go on hikes, reading, finding coffee shops and music, but loves doing all of these with other people.