Land O’ Lakes Gators Welcome New Volleyball Coach

Land O' Lakes High School's new volleyball coach has big shoes to fill and some large hurdles to overcome, but Mary Jane Kranendonk is looking forward to the challenge.

“I’m very excited about my new position at Land O’ Lakes High School,” said the first-year coach. “It’s a privilege to work at a school with such a rich athletic history.”

Some of that history was made last year when the volleyball team, under coach Laurie Fitzpatrick, went 19-4 and two rounds deep in the playoffs.

One of the challenges the new coach will face is filling the roster. It was left with quite a few holes after last season. Both team captains, Nicole Woodard and Morgan Crescent, graduated and moved on. Four other seniors also graduated off the 12-person roster, meaning about half the team is gone.

It will takes some work to get the Lady Gators back to last year's competitive level, but Coach Kranendonk seems ready to welcome the challenge.

Kranendonk is no stranger to the school’s history either. She’s lived in the area most of her life and in the Bay area about all of it. She attended King High School in Temple Terrace and there was a varsity volleyball athlete. There she won the Tommy Owen Award, given to the most outstanding athlete at King High School.

She moved to Land O’ Lakes not long after high school and began a long career in teaching youth sports. Two of her sons have been Gator football players. Her younger son John plays center on the current football team. Her older son, Thomas James Kranendonk, has an award in his memory given out to the most outstanding athlete at the school of any gender, in any sport. 

Her 25-year teaching career began at Sanders Elementary. She was there for seven years, teaching physical education and volleyball. Her next stop would be at Denham Oaks. She was there for 17 years, teaching volleyball and physical education. All the while, she’s taught several other sports both recreationally and competitively.

Kranendonk has also coached Land O’ Lakes Little League for 15 years. In addition, she's served as a soccer coach with CPUSA and a swimming coach for the Land O’ Lakes Lightning Club. She’s even coached rowing for the Land O’ Lakes Rowing Club.

Kranendonk has a strong philosophy about what it takes to be a good high school athlete.

“They have to have the grades, they have to have the right attitude, they have to work hard,” she said.

Thirteen girls showed up for a recent summer workout. Official tryouts are Aug. 16.

The Lady Gators have their first preseason game Aug. 24 at the Fivay Preseason Classic.