Barrington names Jakubowski girls volleyball coach

The Barrington 220 Board of Education approved a new girls volleyball coach for Barrington High School on Tuesday night.

She is hardly a stranger to prep sports.

Michelle Jakubowski, an 18-year veteran of high school athletics, will become the head coach this fall.

She succeeds Rob Ridenour, who had been directing the boys and girls varsity volleyball teams since 2011. He has decided to focus solely on boys volleyball.

Jakubowski has been the athletic director at Huntley High School since 2012.

"Michelle is an experienced coach whose enthusiasm and passion for the game are perfect fits for the education-based athletic programs at Barrington High School," said Barrington athletic director Mike Obsuszt.

At Huntley, Jakubowski's teams were 149-75 in six seasons (2006-2012) and won three Class 4A regional titles.

Prior to Huntley, she was the head girls volleyball coach at Lake Zurich (2000-2006) and Winnebago (1996-2000).

Jakubowski has more than 350 career victories.

She played college volleyball at NCAA Division I Northeastern Illinois University.

"Michelle will do a great job leading our girls volleyball program," Obsuszt added. "Most importantly though, she will continue to ensure we run a high-quality, education-based approach to the game."

Jakubowski earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics and secondary education from Northern Illinois University and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from National-Louis University.

While serving at Huntley, Lake Zurich and Winnebago high schools, Jakubowski held positions of athletic director, math teacher, dean of students and varsity volleyball coach.

"I am very excited to become part of the tradition at Barrington High School," she said . "I look forward to working with the students to help them become more successful in the classroom, on the court and to help them be better prepared for life after high school."