West Potomac hired Molly Szychulski to replace Jean Coder as the school’s volleyball coach on April 30. Szychulski was officially confirmed on May 2 after a meeting with principal Rima Vesilind.
“She really fits my philosophy in what I’m looking for in a coach,” said student activities director Aaron Helmick. “It worked out really well because she has the energy, the passion and the commitment for the kids and the program.”
Szychulski, who lives in Alexandria, was the head coach of the Northampton Juniors volleyball team from 2005-2007, and also served as a volunteer coach for two years at Council Rock High School in Newtown, Penn.
Last year, she was taught in the Prince William County school district.
Szychulski played at Shippensburg University, a public university located 40 miles west of Harrisburg, Penn., where she was a volleyball captain for two seasons.
Last season, Coder, who is also the girls soccer coach, led the Wolverines to the best season in school history. They achieved their first-ever runner-up finish in the Patriot District this past fall. And West Potomac made it to the second round of the regional tournament before being outmatched by a potent Centreville team.
“Being a coach is a huge sacrifice on the family and any coach in the region will tell you that…it just seemed like a good point for me to turn the program over and concentrate on soccer,” Coder said on April 1.
WEST POTOMAC IS also close on hiring a new varsity girls basketball coach to replace Peter Stephan, who resigned immediately after his first season.
“We feel like we’ve never ever had a good basketball coach,” Helmick said. “We lose a lot of lacrosse and girls basketball players to private schools because we haven’t had stellar or consistent coaches. We’re really hoping that we land someone good, and I think we will.”
Helmick said 11 applicants turned in resumes, six of which were interviewed. Two interviewees are currently coaches in Fairfax County, while another is a former coach in Arlington. He hopes to fulfill the position by early next week.
West Potomac also has open positions for varsity cheer and track coaching positions. Dan Lundin, the track coach for the past three seasons, resigned after getting married.