A search for a new volleyball head coach at Fort Stockton High School is currently underway as the resignation of Gabrielle Harral was announced in the district’s Feb. 27 board packet.

Harral steps away from the program after a two-year tenure as the Prowlers head coach.

The Odessa native made the decision following the birth of her son Luke Harral on Oct. 26, stating that she hopes to return to coaching in the future but will now cherish motherhood with her firstborn.

“It was just too hard for me to leave him, being so young. I do hope to return in future when things are a little bit better but as of like leaving him to go back to work after three months, it was too difficult,” she said. “I loved coaching and connecting with the girls and pushing them to be better to be than what they thought they were. They have so much potential and I’m going to miss every part of it.”

Fort Stockton ISD Athletic Director Jeremy Hickman said that a thorough search will be conducted to fill the vacancy in a timely manner.

“We’re going to find the best candidate for our girls,” Hickman noted. “I thought the program really improved under Gabrielle. She did a great job with the girls improving their fundamentals and skill level. It’s a loss for us to have coach Harral step down. She did a tremendous job of getting our girls to compete. She is a coach of integrity and character and really got a lot out of girls and I couldn’t be more thankful she was here to help the kids.”

In Harral’s two years at the helm of the program, the Odessa High School graduate had the team trending to make the postseason in the near future.

Fort Stockton won their first district game in five years during Harral’s first season as head coach in 2021 and followed by having a playoff opportunity heading into their last game in 2022.

The next head coach will look to advance the Prowler volleyball team to the postseason for the first time since 2016.