New Plano volleyball coach returning to roots

Matt Welch, Plano Star Courier 1-7-20

Having coached volleyball at both the high school and college levels, Lindsey Petzold has a unique perspective on the game.

She’s been through the ringer of running a preparatory program over nine combined years spent coaching Giddings and Magnolia West, during which she led both programs to plenty of hallmark moments on the hard court. For the past three years, Petzold has been immersed in the detail and recruiting rigors as an assistant coach at McNeese State University.

Through it all, it’s Petzold’s passion for developing high school players that led to her first-ever coaching stop in the Metroplex after being recently named the new head coach at Plano Senior.

“I just fell in love with it. I’m passionate about all sports I coach … and I love being around kids and being able to be a mentor in their lives and helping build them into good people,” Petzold said. “That’s a little bit more difficult at the college level because there are more adults who don’t need guidance as much. I’m just excited to get back into having my own program and being able to share my passion with kids. It’s the greatest feeling in the world when you can see how they react to that and they can share that with you.”

It’s something Petzold got to experience firsthand when she began her coaching career at Giddings (2008-13) and Magnolia West (2014-16) — two stops that helped stoke her passion for molding student-athletes. Along the way, Petzold found success with both programs, from leading Giddings to the playoffs four times in five years, including its first-ever regional quarterfinal trip in 2010, to coaching West to its first-ever district title and playoff appearance in 2015.

Getting back to that mentorship was key in guiding Petzold, whose coaching stops have all come more than 200 miles from Plano, toward the Metroplex.

“Over the last year or so, I did some soul-searching and really feel like I can make the biggest impact at the high school level,” Petzold said. “I had started looking for jobs and the Plano job came open and I applied for it. I think it’s some of the best volleyball in the state up there and really felt like that was where I needed to be if I was offered the job. It’s been a fast and furious last month, but I’m excited.”

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Plano ISD athletic director Gerald Brence announces retirement

Matt Welch, Plano Star  

After nearly four decades in Plano ISD, the school district's longtime athletic director, Gerald Brence, has announced his retirement.

Brence announced his decision in a press release from PISD on Monday afternoon, signaling the end of a 39-year tenure within PISD athletics. Brence has been PISD's athletic director since 2007, which came on the heels of a successful run as the head football coach at Plano Senior from 1992-07, during which Brence led the Wildcats to their last state championship (1994) and five trips to the state quarterfinals and beyond.

Brence also won two state championships as an assistant at Plano in 1986 and 1987.

During Brence's tenure as athletic director, PISD captured numerous UIL state championships, including titles in baseball, boys basketball, boys soccer, girls basketball, girls soccer, golf and team tennis. 

"He was such a great mentor and such a student of the game," said Jaydon McCullough, Plano head football coach. "He's a tireless worker who's very well organized and just a great leader. I'm going to miss him, but at the same time I'm excited for him for his future and getting to start retirement."