Michelle Goodall still enjoying role with USA Volleyball

Former Cedar Rapids Kennedy volleyball coach Michelle Goodall has many accomplishments throughout her long coaching career.

Since leaving the high school level, she has won two gold medals with the United States Paralympics volleyball team as one of the coaches. The team won gold in Rio and Tokyo Paralympics.

Goodall started her career as the head coach for the Kennedy Cougars in 1999 and coached for 20 successful seasons. She compiled a 477-273-9 record with six state tournament appearances.

“We had so many great individuals come through our program,” Goodall wrote in an email interview. “It was just so fulfilling to get to share a small part life with them.”

Her time at Kennedy gave very great experiences and introduced her to people she will never forget.

“I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with some amazing (athletics directors) and to work alongside some really great coaches and that made the journey really special,” she wrote.

After her time with the Cougars, Goodall took a position with USA Volleyball that eventually led to winning two gold medals in just four years.

Goodall joined the U.S. Women's Sitting Volleyball Team as the team leader in 2016 and moved to the assistant coach role in January 2019. Since taking the position, Goodall “has played an instrumental role for the U.S. Women's Sitting Team to consistently reaching podium finishes.”

She now has taken on the additional role as “Region Liaison Chief.”

Team USA has been very successful since adding Goodall. They had their first undefeated season with Goodall as a first-year assistant coach. The team is currently ranked No. 1 in the world.

Goodall credits her time at Kennedy for helping her prepare for this job.

“At Kennedy, my days were filled working with athletes, coaches, my ADs and other colleagues, and parents,” she wrote. “In my current role, it’s much the same.”

Goodall was inducted into the USA Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2020 and “has received USA Volleyball Meritorious Service awards.”

She doesn’t, however, rule out the idea of coming back to coaching high school volleyball.

“My new role certainly keeps me busy enough, but I really enjoyed coaching at Kennedy, so I guess I won’t say never again,” she wrote.