Lacey Bell has been appointed interim volleyball coach at Linfield University, director of athletics Scott Brosius announced on Monday.
 
"I'm so grateful to have this opportunity," she said. "It's been one of my life-time goals to be a collegiate head coach. I feel very fortunate that the hard work I put into my collegiate, overseas professional career and my dedication to coaching has paid dividends so that I could integrate the Linfield athletic and academic community with such short notice. I truly feel blessed."
 
Bell comes to Linfield from Pacific University, where her most recent role came as an assistant varsity coach and recruiting coordinator. She also was in charge of leading the Boxers' junior varsity program.
 
Her volleyball resume is unique, combining extensive playing and coaching opportunities. She brings 15 years of professional and semi-professional international playing experience to her new position, most notably as player-coach and seniors elite team captain with Volley Ball Pexinois Niort France, a club team located in France's central-west coast region.
 
While in France, she taught American culture and language to students in grades 5-12 and headed Volley Ball Pexinois Niort France's development youth program, coaching boys and girls ages 6-17.
 
Bell began her collegiate playing career at Eastern Washington University before transferring to Gonzaga University for her final three seasons. She completed a bachelor's degree in philosophy and political science at Gonzaga, where she was a member of the Bulldogs volleyball squad as a right-side hitter and outside hitter.
 
Bell earned a master's degree in philosophy from the University of Poitiers in France. She holds regional and national French Volleyball Federation coaching certifications.
 
She becomes just the fifth Wildcats head coach in the last 45 years and is elated to be taking on her first collegiate head coaching assignment.
 
"In the few days that I have been on campus, I can already see that this is going to be a great group of young ladies to work with," she said. "The leadership group is extremely invested and is helping with bridging the gap so that the unforeseen change right before the season is a smooth transition for all. I'll also include that the administrative athletic staff and fellow coaches have made me feel right at home. I'm very thankful for that."
 
Bell replaces Haley Domeck, who resigned in early August after four seasons at the helm.