Ibieta named head coach of indoor, beach programs

NEW ORLEANS – The Loyola University New Orleans indoor and beach volleyball program has a familiar face grabbing the reins, as Jenna Ibieta was named the new head coach for the two teams, Assistant Vice President of Athletics Brett Simpson announced on Wednesday. Ibieta made the move to her new role after serving as assistant coach for the indoor fall 2025 season. 
 

She's the eighth head coach in program history. 
 

"We're excited to announce Jenna Ibieta as our next Head Volleyball Coach at Loyola University New Orleans," Simpson said. "Jenna has already made a significant impact on our program through her leadership and deep understanding of the game, earning SSAC Assistant Coach of the Year honors this past season. With head coaching experience at the high school level, extensive club coaching in New Orleans, and a strong background as a student-athlete at Tulane, she is well-positioned to lead our program forward and build on our recent success.

Ibieta joined the Wolf Pack in May and helped the indoor team collect 29 wins, the second-most in program wins, the program's first SSAC Championship title, and the second NAIA national tournament appearance in three years. She was also named the SSAC Assistant Coach of the Year. 
 

"This is home for me, and I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead these programs," Ibieta said. "What last season's group accomplished set a strong foundation, and with a talented recruiting class coming in, I'm excited to continue building a culture grounded in excellence. I'm looking forward to what's ahead and honored to be part of the ongoing growth and success of the Indoor and Beach programs."
 

Ibieta's roles with the program have been leading the recruiting efforts, player development, travel logistics, and on-court training, with a focus on offensive systems. She coached five members of the SSAC All-Conference team, including SSAC Freshman and Attacker of the Year Isis Harink, all-conference first-teamers Alexa Palmer and Kala Emanuelli, along with Harink, and members of the second team: Ivana De Carvalho Peixe and Samantha Guillotte.  
 

Before joining the Loyola staff, Ibieta spent the four years prior in Lafayette, serving as the Head Volleyball Coach at Acadiana High School (2024–2025) and Sacred Heart Grand Coteau (2021–2024), while also working as an Admissions Coordinator. She brings additional experience from the club volleyball scene, having coached with the Cajun Elite and Louisiana Volleyball programs during that four-year stretch.
 

A former collegiate setter at Tulane University (2017–2019), Ibieta tallied 1,497 assists and 556 digs over her career. She was named to the All-State Sugar Bowl Collegiate Classic All-Tournament Team, was a member of the Tulane Athletic 3.0 Club, and earned American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team honors in 2018–2019. She holds a B.S. in Communications with minors in Sociology and Business.
 

Ibieta's volleyball roots run deep. As a standout player at Metairie Park Country Day, she led her team to four LHSAA State Championships (2012–2014, 2016) and was named Louisiana Miss Volleyball in 2016. She holds the school record with over 5,000 career assists and was a four-time all-state selection. Her coaching journey began early, contributing to NOLA Volleyball during her high school and college years.
 

Volleyball excellence runs in the family, too. Her mother, Julie Stempel Ibieta, is a former LSU volleyball standout and co-director of NOLA Volleyball. Her father, Juan Ibieta, played baseball at Tulane. Her brothers, Justin and Jake, are also involved in collegiate athletics — Justin as a graduate assistant with Tulane Football and Jake as a member of the LSU football team.
 

A reception to introduce Coach Ibieta will take place at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 12, in the University Sports Complex's Hall of Fame Room. 
 

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