Ashley Preston

Ashley Preston is the Head Volleyball Coach at the University of New Orleans.

Ashley Preston was named the 14th head coach in Privateer indoor volleyball history on June 29, 2021.

In 2023, Preston led the Privateers to their first conference tournament victory, a 3-2 decision against UIW. The Privateers ranked inside the top 100 nationally in digs per set for a second consecutive season with 15.08.

Preston coached Karen Cordero Barr who was in the top five in the Southland in kills and aces. Cordero was a Second Team All-Louisiana selection. Also, Lani Alleman finished in the top 10 in the Southland in digs as a true freshman.

2022 brought the fifth biggest win turnaround in the nation. The Privateers won 15 matches and had their best home start (9-0) in program history. The Privateers also had three Player of the Week awards (two offensive and one defensive).

Sheilah Purcell also broke the career mark for most digs per set in program history (4.67). As a team, the Privateers were 13th in the nation in digs per set at 17.04.

In her first season, Preston coached two all-conference members: Purcell and Sh'Diamond Holly. Purcell also achieved the third most digs per set in a season in program history.

Preston was most recently at Cal State Fullerton where she coached for five seasons. Most recently in 2019, Preston was Co-Coach of the Year in the Big West after leading the Titans to a six-win improvement from their 2018 campaign. Cal State Fullerton also finished in the top 25 nationally in digs per set with 17.44.

She coached Julia Crawford to a First Team All-Big West selection and Savahna Costello to Big West honorable mention. Costello ranked 13th individually in digs per set with 5.31.

Prior to Cal State Fullerton, Preston spent three years as Coppin State where she guided the Eagles to 40 wins. In her first season with the Maryland-based school (2012), Preston led Coppin State to their first conference tournament appearance in six years. In 2013, Preston led the Eagles to a then school record for wins in a season.

A 2008 graduate from Morgan State University, Preston spent three seasons as an assistant between Morgan State and Loyola-Maryland. Her first year as a head coach when she guided Spelman College for the 2011 season.

As a player, Preston was a three-time First Team All-MEAC selection and the school's record holder in total digs. Preston earned her bachelor's degree in telecommunications from Morgan State in 2008. She earned her master's in publications design from the University of Baltimore in 2011.