Tippecanoe Valley has approved the hiring of Ashley Derf as its next varsity volleyball head coach. InkFreeNews file photo by Mike Deak

Press Release

AKRON – Tippecanoe Valley athletics announced Wednesday morning the hiring of Ashley Derf as its next varsity head volleyball coach.

Derf was approved by the Tippecanoe Valley school board and will become the head coach after serving as the head JV coach for the Viking volleyball program the previous two seasons.

“It is an honor for me to be the head varsity volleyball coach at Tippecanoe Valley High School,” stated Derf, who replaces Doug West after his one season with the Vikings. “Valley is home for me and my family and has been for generations. I love the program; I love the girls. I have been fortunate to be a JV and assistant varsity coach for a few years at Valley and the current V2 Club Director for our AAU club. This has allowed me time to build relationships with our current players, future players, and their families. Our program is very fortunate to have a lot of great athletes from top to bottom.”

Athletic Director Aaron Butcher felt that throughout the process coach Derf continually showed she was ready for the job.

“Ashley has done a lot for the program the past two seasons,” noted Butcher. “She has ran the offseason program the last two years in addition to the V2 youth program. She has not only ran those, but ran them well. Her organization, communication and desire to help the girls achieve excellence really stood out. I am excited for the future of Tippecanoe Valley Viking volleyball.”

Valley went 13-15 and a fifth-place finish in the Three Rivers Conference in 2020 under West, while Derf was 17-5 with the junior Vikings.

Coach Derf’s debut will come next season when the Vikings travel to Argos for an afternoon game on Saturday, Aug. 14.