Experienced Coach & Former Team Captain to Grow Youth Volleyball in Pittsburgh Region
Adding to its impressive roster of sports and fitness professionals, M:7 Sports Pittsburgh has hired Jordan Barton, head women’s volleyball coach at Bethany College, to rapidly grow youth volleyball and guide players with dreams of playing collegiate volleyball.
Barton led the Bethany Bison to a Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championship and NCAA DIII tournament bid in 2023, her first year at the helm. During her playing career, she was captain for both her Burgettstown Area HS PIAA 1A Blue Devils and Waynesburg University Yellow Jackets.
As a unique sports community in Beaver County featuring 40,000 sq. ft. of courts, turf, and fitness space, M:7 Sports Pittsburgh focuses on helping develop the three main aspects of the modern student-athlete — mind, body, and brand.
“I’m thrilled about this opportunity to share my passion for the game with the next generation of volleyball players,” said Barton. “As a former high school and collegiate player and coach, I’m also intimately familiar with both sides of the recruitment journey, which helps me help others as they pursue playing volleyball at the next level.”
Barton’s lengthy coaching resume also includes serving as head coach for Franciscan University of Steubenville, Blackburn College, Suffolk University, Carbondale Community High School (JV), and Unity Point Middle School, and teaching for several athletic training organizations, including SKY Development Athletics and SMASH Volleyball Academy.
Barton also has a Master of Arts in Teaching from Bethany College as well as a Bachelor of Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology from Waynesburg University.
“Bringing Jordan aboard reflects our prioritization of youth volleyball and getting girls more access to the game and expert instruction,” said M:7 Sports CEO Jim Christiana. “Her vast experience as both coach and player, along with her obvious passion for the sport, makes her the ideal person to head our volleyball operations, for which we’re dedicating a significant amount of court space at Shell Sports Complex.”
Volleyball is among the top growing women’s college sports. According to USA Volleyball, the national governing body of volleyball in the U.S., there are about 2,000 two- and four-year schools that offer intercollegiate volleyball with many of those same schools also sponsoring club teams and/or intramural leagues. With squads of more than 10 players at each school, there remains a high demand for talented players after high school.
For those interested in playing collegiate sports and tying it to their academic and career goals, M:7 Sports offers not only training assistance at its Shell Sports Complex but also fully integrated recruitment services, such as marketing and guidance along the road to recruitment.
M:7 Sports also recently brought on former Blackhawk & Geneva College star quarterback Zack Hayward to lead its football operations.