Pujol, a 2002 Covington High graduate, was a three-sport athlete playing volleyball, basketball and softball for the Lady Lions under the tutelage of long time CHS coach Christine Beauvais.
Pujol was being interviewed for the Hannan girl’s assistant basketball coaching position when the interview changed direction. “When they found out I was also a college athlete who had recreational volleyball coaching experience and had run some camps they got excited,” Pujol said. “They asked me to coach the volleyball team.”
 Jennifer Pujol |
“This coaching job is a blessing, and I love teaching. I have found my calling in life. To wake up each day to go teach, and then close out the day, practicing with my volleyball team is special,” Pujol added.
Hannan athletic director George Templet said Pujol is a great hire for the volleyball and basketball programs.
“As a former college volleyball and basketball player she brings lots of knowledge to the programs,” Templet said. “Jennifer is very energetic, knows the games of volleyball and basketball, and has proven to be a very hard working young coach. She quickly established a good rapport with our young players. We are confident that she will also excel in the classroom,” Templet added.
Pujol, who graduated from Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., in 2006 with a bachelor of arts in history with a minor in Spanish teaches English I, eighth grade English and eighth grade reading at Hannan.
Pujol (6-foot) played four years of volleyball at Millsaps, playing middle hitter and middle blocker. A three-year starter, she was named to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference all-conference team as a hitter and blocker as a senior.
She also played forward on the Majors’ basketball team for two and a half years.
Pujol talked about her Hannan volleyball club.
“I have a great group of girls, but we’re a young team,” Pujol said. “They are awesome, and work hard. That’s all you can ask for as a coach. We’re working on fundamentals going over the basic stuff so we can get that down before heading into the regular season. We have to be able to pass effectively.”
The first-year coach said based on her experience as a high school and college player she wants to teach her athletes to be the best they can be both on and off the court.
“I’m doing my best, showing my players they have to have heart and be passionate about what they do. I know they can achieve success through hard work. My mindset is to work hard every day, and get my players to give it everything they’ve got.”
Hannan senior Katie Bailey is one of three seniors on the club along with Shelby Finch and Allie McPhearson. Bailey will play middle front and middle back for the Lady Hawks. “I’m hoping I can come through for my team and be a strong hitter,” Bailey said. “After being around coach Jennifer for a couple weeks, we know she is going to push us to the limit. She wants us to be the best that we can be.”
Bailey described her coach as a good motivator, who knows how to keep the team focused. “She won’t allow us to pick up any bad habits. If we don’t do something right the first time, we know we better get it right the next time.”
Pujol said she is extremely anxious to get into the school’s new facility in a couple months.
She said coming up as a player under coach Beauvais for four years, she knows what commitment it takes to be successful.
“Coach Beauvais is the most passionate, hardest working female coach I have ever seen in my life. She is an awesome coach. I consider her my role model and my mentor. I don’t have those great one-liners that she used to say in practice, but maybe I can work on that,” Pujol said.
“My motto is all about structure and discipline. I will run a disciplined team. We’re going to be successful by working hard.”
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