Jenessa Hicks Neal '12
Assistant Athletic Director; Women's Volleyball Head Coach
Phone: 269-749-7226
Jenessa Hicks Neal graduated from The University of Olivet in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in special education and minors in English and physical education, following her dreams to help students reach their goals. As head women’s volleyball coach, assistant athletic director and senior women’s advisor, Coach Neal is utilizing this passion to help students earn a college education in a familial environment – adding that the family atmosphere is her favorite part of Olivet.
“I have always had a passion to help students reach their goals,” Coach Neal emphasized. “It is very rewarding to see a student grow in his or her academics and watch them develop over a period of time for the better.”
Prior to working in athletics at The University of Olivet, Coach Neal worked in our admissions department as the associate director. Before working at The University of Olivet, she worked for the Target Corporation for 10 years, serving as a senior team lead. Through her roles with Target, she developed extensive sales, customer service and leadership skills. In addition, Coach Neal spent three years coaching high school volleyball, combining her love of the sport and passion for building relationships with students. Further, Coach Neal has experience working with students directly in the classroom for 2 years after graduating from Olivet, working with special education, 1st grade and 4th grade.
Coach Neal is excited to help students discover the boundless opportunities at The University of Olivet, many of which she participated in, including the volleyball and cheer teams. Coach Neal’s outgoing, energetic personality assists her in building relationships with prospective Olivet students and guiding them through the steps to be a Comet.
“It’s all about the feeling you get when you visit the campus,” Coach Neal said. “For me, I visited a lot of smaller colleges, but when I stepped on Olivet’s campus, I felt so relaxed and at home. I just knew it was right for me. It’s really important to find your individual fit at a college or university.”
