WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Patricia “Paty” Figueiredo has been named the permanent head coach of the Grizzly Volleyball program at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP).
The former player and Grizzly Hall of Fame honoree took the reins of the program from long-time head coach Paula Wiedemann, who retired March 1. Figueiredo served as Wiedemann’s assistant coach this past season. Her hiring as head coach is pending approval by the Missouri State University Board of Governors.
Figueiredo said she is grateful and excited to lead the program that changed the course of her life 15 years ago. “I want to thank Chancellor Dennis Lancaster and Athletic Director Rusty Laverentz for this incredible opportunity. Fifteen years ago, I arrived in West Plains with a lot of questions, fear and excitement to start a new chapter in my life. I was lucky to be a part of the program as a player and as an assistant coach, and I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the Grizzlies now,” she said.
“Paty was the ideal candidate because she’s a Grizzly through and through,” Laverentz said. “She played here, coached here and knows the traditions of the program. She came highly recommended by Paula, and she brought in a talented recruiting class for last year’s team. She knows what she’s looking for in the recruiting process because she’s been through the program before. She knows what type of player fits in the program and in the community, and we’re excited to see where she takes Grizzly Volleyball in the future.”
Since her time as a player, Figueiredo said, West Plains has become home for her. “I want to continue to build on the history of the program, continue to make it grow and have a positive impact on those who get to be a part of it. I have a special love for this city, school and the staff, and I would not choose any other place to start my collegiate head coaching career,” she said.
A native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Figueiredo joined the Grizzlies as a setter in 2008 and was part of two teams that reached the NJCAA Division 1 Women’s National Volleyball Championship Tournament. The 2009 Grizzlies brought home the second place trophy from the event.
After graduating from MSU-WP, she transferred to Florida State University where she played for the Seminoles and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics with a minor in business.
Before returning to West Plains last year as the assistant volleyball coach, Figueiredo served as the director of volleyball operations/varsity volleyball head coach at Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, for a year.
Prior to that, she spent two years as an assistant coach and financial aid specialist at Montana State University-Northern in Havre and two years as an assistant coach at the University of Texas-El Paso. She also has coached club volleyball and volleyball programs in her homeland and in Norway.
Figueiredo said her experience with these programs, as well as her time as a player on the team, helped prepare her for her job as head coach.
“I have had the opportunity to coach at the NCAA Division I and the NAIA levels. I was also director of volleyball and indoor and beach volleyball coach for a boarding school and a club. My time as a student-athlete, especially here in West Plains, was an important key in my preparation to lead the Grizzlies. The fact that I was part of the program on both sides as a player and coach gives me a great understanding of what it takes to be successful and the challenges we may face on the road,” she explained.
In describing her coaching style, Figueiredo said she believes communication and teamwork among players and staff is the foundation of a successful program. “I work on building a trust relationship with my staff and my players and believe that this is the only way we get the best from each other,” she said. “Everyone is unique and contributes in diverse ways to the team. I am clear about my goals and expectations for each of them and the team.
“My coaching style is how I live my life – creating good relationships, encouraging, treating people and opportunities with respect and gratitude,” she added. “I like to say that volleyball is the real world in miniature. It teaches us how to prepare and grow to face the challenges we will find in our lives.”
Grizzly fans can expect to see a hard-working team on and off the court from Figueiredo. “The Grizzlies will be a team that will fight for every point and every opportunity to succeed with and for each other, a team made of players who will do their best and work hard from day one. We have BIG goals and will work to deserve achieving them,” she said.
Key to that will be finding the right players to fill the roster. “I am looking for players who are excited to join this program and are proud to represent Missouri State University-West Plains and this community,” she said. “We will continue to seek players for certain positions and skills, but these are things we can coach and improve. We need to do our best to recruit players who are passionate and hungry for the game and grateful for the opportunity they have here, players who respect others, and players who search for opportunities to grow and make others better. Two years go by fast, and we want players who are excited to be a part of a team and family that fights together to achieve their goals while building a lifetime of memories.”
One important goal Figueiredo would like to achieve is bringing a national championship to West Plains. “As a player in 2009, our team got close to it after finishing second at the NJCAA Division I Women’s National Volleyball Championship. Last year as an assistant coach we played at home and finished third at nationals. It gives me goosebumps to imagine bringing the national title to West Plains!,” she said.
“We know that is a big goal, and it will be a consequence of all other things being done the right way. We need to deserve it more than other teams. We need to outwork our opponents and treat each other, our school and the community with the respect they deserve,” she added.
“I do not expect this to be an easy task, but it’s what motivates me to achieve remarkable things for and with the Grizzlies,” Figueiredo continued. “I personally have unfinished business after finishing second at nationals in 2009 and third in 2022.
“Even more than just results, I have unfinished business with what this school and community have provided me during my journey as a player and coach. We will work hard in everything we commit ourselves to doing. We will go after the players who match our culture and have big goals for the team and our program. We will create a healthy competition in our gym and face opponents that will make us better,” she said.
Figueiredo is looking forward to the upcoming season and seeing the Grizzly fans in the stands once again. “Your presence, involvement and connection with our program is what makes it special. We are grateful for your support, and we hope to see you cheer for us next season. We will do our best to make volleyball a major event for all families. We hope to see the civic center packed!,” she said.
“We are thankful to our fans, boosters, sponsors and everyone who is connected to our program,” she added. “We will work hard to represent you in the best way possible. Go Grizzlies!”
For more information about the Grizzly Volleyball team, visit MSUWPGrizzlies.com or call 417-255-7950.
Missouri State University-West Plains empowers students to achieve personal success and to enrich their local and global communities by providing accessible, affordable and quality educational opportunities. Missouri State-West Plains offers associate degrees and credit and non-credit courses and serves as a delivery site for bachelor’s and master’s degrees offered by Missouri State University in Springfield.
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