Veteran volleyball coach Paula Schwan joined the Seattle University volleyball program in July 2026, bringing more than 30 years of coaching experience at the Division I, club and professional levels.
Schwan’s passion for developing athletes led her to establish North Pacific Juniors (NPJ), one of the Seattle area’s longstanding club volleyball programs. She continues to serve as NPJ’s club director and head coach of NPJ-Seattle 18 National, where she works with athletes pursuing opportunities at the next level.
Throughout her tenure with NPJ, Schwan has helped numerous athletes advance their careers, with players continuing to compete at the junior college, NAIA , Division II, Division III, and NCAA Division I levels.
Schwan also brings extensive semi-professional coaching experience. She served as head coach of the Puget Sound Region (PSR) women’s semi-professional team for four years and is currently entering her third season coaching the men’s Riptide semi-professional team.
A lifelong student and advocate of the game, Schwan is also the mother of three daughters, two of whom played Division I volleyball. Her middle daughter is currently in her ninth season of professional volleyball, giving Schwan a unique perspective on the athlete's journey from youth and club volleyball through the collegiate and professional levels.
Driven by a lifelong love of the game, Schwan is passionate about teaching athletes not only how to compete at the highest level, but also how to use the lessons of volleyball, discipline, resilience, accountability and teamwork, to succeed beyond the court.