By Zach Thummel
Columbia Gorge News
HOOD RIVER — Nearly seven years since she walked the halls at Hood River Valley (HRV) High School, Emily Curtis is back — but his time, at the front of the bench.
Curtis, a 2019 HRV graduate, completed her first season in November as head coach of the Eagles’ volleyball program, stepping into the role earlier than she expected. The transition felt natural, even if the timing surprised her.
“I always knew I wanted to get involved in volleyball at some point, but I didn’t think it would happen this young,” Curtis said. “I honestly didn’t think I’d be back in Hood River this soon.”
Curtis’ playing resume made her a familiar name long before she took over the team. A three-sport athlete at HRV, she starred in volleyball, basketball and track and field.
“I started playing volleyball in middle school through the school programs,” Curtis said. “I made varsity my freshman year, and I was on varsity all four years, which was a really cool experience.”
That foundation in Hood River carried her to the next level. Curtis played club volleyball in Portland, where she caught the attention of Linn-Benton Community College’s head Coach Jayme Frasier at a tournament during her senior year. Curtis spent two seasons at Linn-Benton before finishing her degree at Oregon State University.
After graduating in 2024, Curtis returned home to that same foundation with no concrete plan to coach, just a desire to stay connected to volleyball.
“I came home and did some traveling,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to stay in Hood River. I had a really amazing childhood here, and I’ve lived here my whole life. I didn’t think it would happen this soon, but I got a job at a local utility company, my parents and family are here, my partner lives here, and it all just kind of fell into place.”
Curtis crossed paths with friends involved in the local club volleyball scene and casually offered to help if needed. Soon after, she found herself assisting with a club team — including several players who would later play for her at HRV.
“I ended up being an assistant coach with Meighan McNerney with the 16’s, so I actually had a few of those girls for the school year,” she said. “I loved it, and then saw that the position was open for head coach. So, I was just like, ‘I’ll just apply,’ and that was that.”
Curtis was hired in the spring of 2025 and immediately made an impact in the fall. In her first season, she guided the Eagles to a 10-14 record during the 2025-26 campaign, a three-win improvement from the year prior. The Eagles also posted a 3.91 grade-point average on the season.
For some, coaching at their former school can be nerve-racking. For Curtis, it’s been both surreal and rewarding.
“It’s very interesting [to coach at your alma mater] because it wasn’t that long ago that I was walking those halls as a student,” she said. “But it’s really cool to come back as the adult version of myself. A lot of the people I’m around were my teachers.”
Curtis credits that perspective, as well as her proximity in age, for helping her connect with her players. “I love giving back to the community,” she said. “I’ve never really worked with kids before, and now I get to work with these athletes almost every day. I think being not much older than them helps me connect on a different level.”
Looking ahead, Curtis is focused on building a program rooted in fundamentals, consistency and joy for the game.
“I want to create an environment where the girls are having a lot of fun but also playing really good volleyball,” said Curtis. “I’m very fundamentals-based, and starting with our freshmen and getting those basics down is going to help us long term.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better first season; it was great.”
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