After five remarkable seasons and four state championships at Prestonwood Christian Academy, Coach Ryan Mitchell announces his retirement as Coach Katelyn Gill prepares to lead the Lady Lions into their next chapter. It's the end of an incredible era for Prestonwood Christian Academy Volleyball, but the future of the Lady Lions is in championship hands!
Following another outstanding season that culminated in the 2026 TAPPS 6A State Championship, legendary Head Volleyball Coach Ryan Mitchell has announced his retirement from coaching. Stepping into the head coaching role is a familiar face: Katelyn Gill, who has spent the past two seasons helping lead the Lady Lions as an assistant coach.
When Coach Mitchell arrived at PCA in 2021, he brought with him an extraordinary coaching résumé, including seven state championships at Lovejoy High School, a national championship, and National Coach of the Year honors. Over the next five seasons, he helped take PCA Volleyball to new heights. Under his leadership, the Lady Lions captured four TAPPS 6A State Championships, including three consecutive titles from 2022 through 2024, and established themselves among the nation's premier high school volleyball programs.
But ask anyone who has been part of the program, and they'll tell you that Coach Mitchell's influence reaches well beyond the scoreboard. His commitment to discipline, teamwork, character, and Christ-centered leadership has helped shape generations of young women, preparing them for success both on and off the court.
"Ryan Mitchell has been an extraordinary blessing to Prestonwood Christian Academy," said Dr. Michael Goddard, Superintendent of the PCA School System. "His impact extends far beyond championship trophies and national rankings. Ryan has invested in the lives of young women, challenged them to pursue excellence, and demonstrated what it means to compete with purpose and a Kingdom mindset.”
As Coach Mitchell closes this chapter of his remarkable career, the PCA community has much to celebrate and even more to be thankful for. PCA families, Alumni, and friends are invited to celebrate Coach Mitchell's retirement on Thursday, December 3, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Welcome Center.
While Coach Mitchell leaves big shoes to fill, the Lady Lions won't have to look far for their next leader. Coach Katelyn Gill is already a familiar presence on the PCA sidelines, having served as an assistant coach for the past two seasons. She knows the players, understands the program's culture, and brings an impressive championship pedigree of her own.
Before joining PCA, Gill served as Head Volleyball Coach at Gunter High School, where she compiled a 203–58 record and guided the program to several historic milestones. Under her leadership, Gunter reached its first State Tournament in 2020, played in its first State Championship match in 2021, and won its first volleyball State Championship in 2022. That championship season ended with a 43–6 record and a Top 20 national ranking. Gill's success earned her multiple Coach of the Year honors, including recognition from the Texas Girls Coaches Association.
Her volleyball experience began long before her coaching career. As a four-year letterwinner and team captain at Texas A&M University, Gill helped the Aggies capture the 2015 SEC Championship and make four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
For Gill, however, the opportunity to lead PCA Volleyball is about much more than winning matches. "I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to lead the PCA Volleyball program," Gill shared. "It is abundantly clear that this is a door God opened for our family, and I am thrilled to transition into this new role in the program. I am excited to continue the legacy of championship volleyball at PCA and come alongside our athletes in their pursuit of Christ.”
Gill and her husband, Jordan, who serves as Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Gunter High School, have three children: Kirby, Callum, and Collins.
With a championship tradition firmly established and a proven leader ready to take the reins, PCA Volleyball enters its next chapter with plenty of momentum. Coach Mitchell leaves behind a legacy of excellence, faith, and countless lives impacted. Coach Gill brings the experience, relationships, and passion to build upon that foundation.
As PCA celebrates its 30th anniversary, this transition is another reminder that while seasons and leaders may change, the mission remains the same: developing student-athletes who compete with excellence, lead with character, and honor Christ in all they do.