The new head volleyball coach at Salem High School certainly does not need an introduction to the school or the program. Beth Denton is a highly respected geometry teacher and math department chair at the high school, who also knows her way around the volleyball court.
Denton was both the head coach for the Salem JV and varsity programs for five years from 2009-2014, before taking some time away from the game to focus on her family and young children. In addition, she has been a high school coach at Patrick Henry-Ashland and worked with athletes in the Next Revolution and Richmond volleyball clubs.
The Roanoke native graduated from Cave Spring, where she played varsity volleyball for legendary Roanoke Valley coach Penny Williams. Denton also played three years on an A-Level Club team at James Madison University and won a national championship.
Denton graduated from James Madison in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and the following year she earned her Master of Education degree from JMU. She has been a teacher at Salem High School for the past 12 years.
“I really feel like this is a joy that I have been missing since my departure in 2014,” says Denton “It was absolutely the right move for my family at the time, but I am so excited to be coming back. Coaching is such a great way to build relationships with students and families.”
She and her husband recently moved to Salem along with their five children. Her appointment is pending formal approval by the Salem School Board when it meets June 9.