TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- Northeastern State University named Maria Jacobus as its head volleyball coach, marking a historic moment as the institution relaunches the program for the first time since the early 1980s.
 
NSU President Rodney Hanley said the return of volleyball reflects the university's continued commitment to expanding opportunities and strengthening campus life.
 
"Reintroducing volleyball to Northeastern State is about more than adding a sport; it is about restoring a tradition and creating new opportunities for student-athletes to thrive," Hanley said. "Maria Jacobus brings the energy, vision and passion needed to build a program that will engage our campus and community from the very beginning. We are excited to see volleyball return to Tahlequah and become an integral part of RiverHawk Athletics."
 
Director of Athletics John Sisemore said finding the right leader to guide the program's relaunch was a top priority.
 
"As we reintroduce volleyball at Northeastern State, we needed to find a leader who understands how to build from the ground up," Sisemore said. "Maria's experience as a head coach and her commitment to student-athlete development make her the ideal choice to guide this program forward."
 
Jacobus most recently served as assistant women's volleyball coach and director of operations at the University of Idaho in 2025. In that role, she specialized in defensive scouting, match preparation and program operations, helping support the Vandals' competitive efforts in Moscow, Idaho.
 
Before Idaho, Jacobus was the head coach at Wenatchee Valley College from 2022-24. After taking over the program in 2022, she guided the Knights through a rebuilding phase that laid the groundwork for sustained success. The 2022 team finished 3-13 in conference play, but the season established a foundation for future growth.
 
That progress became evident in 2023, when the Knights posted a 13-3 conference record and finished 22-10 overall. Wenatchee Valley earned a postseason berth and remained ranked in the top 10 of the NWAC Coaches Poll throughout the season. Multiple student-athletes earned first, second, and third-team all-conference honors, and one player was named NWAC Defensive Player of the Week.
 
The Knights followed with another strong campaign in 2024, finishing 7-7 in conference play and 20-13 overall, returning to the postseason tournament. The team again placed multiple players on the all-conference teams and maintained a top-10 ranking in the coaches' poll throughout the season.
Jacobus began her coaching career at Wenatchee Valley College as assistant head coach while working in education.
 
A native of East Wenatchee, Washington, Jacobus graduated from Eastmont High School in 2016. She earned her Associate in Arts and Sciences degree from Wenatchee Valley College, where she competed for the Knights volleyball team, before completing her bachelor's degree in elementary education with a minor in teaching English as a second language from Central Washington University in 2020.