Claude Howard named head volleyball coach at Cedar Rapids Prairie

CEDAR RAPIDS — After building Springville’s volleyball program into a small-school power, Claude Howard was seeking a new challenge.

At Cedar Rapids Prairie, and in the Mississippi Valley Conference, he’ll get one.

“It’s high level. It’s tough,” Howard said Wednesday, after Prairie announced his hiring.

Howard coached 16 years at Springville, 10 as head coach. He compiled a 293-93 record with eight state appearances, highlighted by a Class 1A runner-up finish in 2021.

The Orioles were semifinalists last year and finished 38-4.

“The last couple of years, I’ve been trying to determine what my next step might be, if there would be a new next step,” Howard said. “With (daughter) Nia (Howard) graduating, it was a natural time to look around.”

Nia has committed to play at Cornell College.

“It’s close to work, it’s close to home and it’s close to Nia,” Howard said of Prairie.

Howard succeeds Rachel Combs, who served one year as interim head coach. He hopes to keep Combs on staff as an assistant.

“We are extremely excited for Claude to lead our program,” Prairie athletics director Rocky Bennett said in a release. “He is a proven winner and his knowledge of the game is unmatched. He will do a tremendous job fostering strong relationships with our athletes, parents and our school community.”

Prairie was 14-22 last season. The Hawks return three of their top four attackers (McKenna Murray, Ryann Decker and Carly Wazac), plus setter Taylor Ray.

Xavier picks Weiland

Cedar Rapids Xavier has named Amy Weiland as its next head volleyball coach, the school announced Wednesday.

Weiland has served as Xavier’s head sophomore coach the past two seasons, leading the Saints to a combined record of 34-2 and back-to-back Mississippi Valley Conference division championships.

She also served as an assistant varsity coach.

“Amy has already made an immense impact on our program, coaching at the sophomore level,” Xavier AD Matt Svare said in a news release. “Her vision for our volleyball program, coupled with her motivational leadership style and advanced communication skills, will be invaluable in helping us achieve our goals at Xavier.”

The Saints are reigning Class 4A state champions.

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