Paris Junior College » Athletics » Entry
Volleyball Coaching Staff
Published or Revised September 22, 2011
Head Coach Justin Maness
Justin Maness
Justin Maness, a native of nearby Roxton, Texas, has been head coach of the Paris Junior College Dragons volleyball team since its inception in 2006.
“It is a process which takes time, and we are seeing the product of hard work,” Maness said of his program.
“It’s important to me that the volleyball program represents the community, administration, faculty and student body in a positive manner. Bringing in young ladies with strong character and a competitive attitude makes for a strong program.”
Maness came to PJC from Southwestern Oklahoma State in Weatherford, Okla., where he was an assistant to Coach Bo Pagliasotti and helped start a new program at that college.
Maness began his coaching career at his alma mater, Roxton High School, where he developed a winning program in volleyball, making the playoffs two out of three years. He also coached the 2003 women’s basketball team at Roxton High School to the state playoffs. He received All-Red River Valley Coach of the Year Honors, and District Coach of The Year Honors. Along with coaching, Maness also taught junior high and high school science courses.
Maness began his college coaching career in 2003 when he left Roxton to become assistant coach at Clarendon College under Coach Pagliasotti. After two years at Clarendon, where he helped lead the team to its first playoff appearances in 2003 and 2004, he went to Southwestern Oklahoma.
Maness is starting his fifth season as head coach of the PJC volleyball program. In his first four seasons, Maness has a record of 60-77, with the 2009 season being the best at 22-11. In the 2009 season, the Dragons made the conference tournament in one of the toughest conferences in the nation. The Dragons also received votes for Top 20 ranking in the nation.
“Each year there has been improvement in wins. The first year it was 10, the second it was 13, the third it was 15, and this past year was 22. The program has taken great strides in the right direction. With hard work we will continue to improve.”
Maness’ outlook for the future of the program is very bright. “Since the 2006 season, we have climbed another rung of the ladder. I have high expectations for the 2010 season and the seasons that follow.”
Maness graduated from Roxton High School and attended Paris Junior College from 1994 to 1996. He completed his bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M University — Commerce and his master’s degree in education at Southwestern Oklahoma State.
Justin resides in Paris with his wife Brittany.
Assistant Coach Amber Jay
Amber Jay
Amber Jay comes to Paris Junior College from Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kan. She was the head volleyball coach at Garden City for the 2010-2011 school year before deciding to make the move to Paris.
Jay started as a collegiate player at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas. After two seasons she transferred to Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Okla.
After her eligibility ran out, she took over the graduate assistant position at Southeastern Oklahoma State University working under Cherrie Wilmoth. Jay graduated from SOSU in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree and went on to Bells, Texas, as the head volleyball coach.
Jay returned back to Southeastern in 2009 as the assistant, and through the season accepted the position as Interim Head Coach. After the 2009 season at SOSU Jay moved on to Garden City Community College, and is now preparing for her first season at Paris Junior college as the assistant coach.
