OUR BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
JACQUE TEVIS-BUTLER
President + Founding Member
Jacque began her coaching career in 1992 as a volunteer coach at Millard North, her alma mater. When Millard West opened in 1995, Jacque joined the teaching staff and began coaching the girls’ freshmen basketball and JV soccer teams. In 1997, she was appointed head coach for the Girls Soccer program, a role she still maintains today. She has led her teams to four Metro Conference Tournament Championships, 17 District Championships, 18 State Tournament Appearances, and 5 State Championships. She has coached four Gatorade Players of the Year, numerous All-State qualifiers and collegiate athletes, and several who have played internationally.
Jacque was inspired to found NWALA for many reasons, but this passion project specifically began in January 2022 when her athletic director asked her to speak to Millard West’s female athletes to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the passage of Title IX. In preparation for the presentation, Jacque researched the influence of involvement in athletics and was surprised to learn how much more significantly girls are positively impacted than boys. Socially, psychologically, and physically, the research continually showed that girls benefit more from participation in sports. Since the passage of Title IX, the number of female athletes has significantly increased, yet the number of women coaching NCAA sports has decreased. Why? Especially when girls/women have more representation and qualified former players who can transition to coaching. Jacque firmly believes girls deserve to have more women leading them. “If you can see it, you can be it.” Increased numbers of female coaches directly correlate to an increase in the number of girls participating in sports and the longevity of their athletic careers. Moreover, all athletes, male and female, deserve to see women in positions of power.
RENEE SAUNDERS
Vice President + Founding Member
Renee Saunders is one of the best Nebraska high school athletes and coaches in state history. Saunders was a two-sport standout in basketball and volleyball and after her senior season was named Nebraska’s Female Athlete of the Year by the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star. Renee attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and uniquely played both basketball and volleyball in Division I. As a freshman in 1995, the Omaha native helped the Husker volleyball team win its first national championship. After her playing career, Renee transitioned to coaching and has excelled in this role for more than two decades. Following a nine-year stint with the Omaha South volleyball team, Renee became the head coach at Skutt Catholic. Under her leadership, the SkyHawks have been transformed into one of the premier volleyball programs in the country, with a state record nine consecutive Class B Volleyball titles from 2015-2023. Renee has been named the National Coach of the Year by the AVCA, Volleyball Mag, Athletico, and MaxPreps and was honored to be selected as an honorary coach for Nebraska’s historic Volleyball Day. She has also been named Nebraska Coach of the Year by the Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star, the first person to win the award as both a player and coach.
NWALA is important to Renee because she wants to see more women coaching in Nebraska. She endeavors to instill confidence in young female coaches and support women in every sport at every level. Though being a female coach is challenging, NWALA is here to empower women to pursue their dreams, and Renee is excited to be part of this initiative.
LAURA PRAUS
Secretary
Laura Praus has officiated volleyball for more than ten years at the high school, college, and club levels. A former player and coach, Laura appreciates that officiating keeps her connected to the sport and its growth. She endeavors to contribute to the integrity of the game by facilitating fair play and a positive environment for athletes. She fosters strong connections with coaches and fellow officials and hopes that young volleyball athletes are inspired to officiate, also. Laura recognizes that players possess a valuable understanding of the game that can greatly benefit officials. She is passionate about recruiting and mentoring these young women to grow the ranks of quality officials in this region.
Laura was thrilled to witness the history-making moment of Volleyball Day in Nebraska in August 2023 – 92,003 strong! The people in this state sent a clear message that women’s sports, and the women who play, coach, administer, and officiate sports, are supported and celebrated. Laura is excited to be a part of the NWALA Board and strives to create more opportunities to champion women in athletics, from youth to professional leagues.
MK McGEE
Treasurer
MK McGee has officiated basketball for over 30 years. A class in college sparked her interest, and over the years she has worked hundreds of games at both the high school and collegiate levels. In 2009, she officiated her first Nebraska Girls State Basketball Championship, and she has been invited back almost every year since. In 2021, she was the first female to officiate at the Nebraska Boys State Basketball Championships. In 2023, she was a member of the first three-person all-female crew, and together these women officiated the Class B Girls Championship game.
MK is a leader within both her local officiating association as well as the small but growing number of female officials in Nebraska. In 2021, she started a group called “Nebraska Female Basketball Officials” that provides training and support for these women. In 2024, MK launched the Her Call platform to support all female sports officials.
TRACY DOUGLAS
Board Member
Tracy Douglas has spent 29 years in education, exemplifying leadership, commitment, and a passion for athletics. She is currently the Activities Director at Hastings High School, a position she has held for the past 11 years. Tracy began her teaching career in North Platte, teaching social studies for two years before returning to Hastings to work at her alma mater. For 11 years, she taught social studies and coached volleyball while serving as Varsity Coach of the Girls Basketball team for six years. In 2007, she
transitioned into school administration as an assistant principal, eventually stepping into the role as Activities Director in 2013.
In addition to her role at Hastings High, Tracy is deeply involved in the broader athletic community. She serves as the co-director of the Nebraska State Softball Tournament, showcasing her commitment to advancing athletics statewide. In recognition of her exceptional contributions, Tracy received the 2023 NSAA Outstanding Service Award for softball. Tracy is also an active member of the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) Classification Committee, where she helps shape policy and classifications for schools across the state. Her dedication and leadership have earned her numerous accolades, including being named the District IV Administrator of the Year.
Tracy’s dedication to education, sports, and leadership reflects the mission of the Nebraska Women’s Athletic Leadership Alliance. She inspires educators and leaders across the state through her work to create opportunities for young women in
sports, influence policies, and support student success. Her career shows how hard work, teamwork, and a passion for helping others can make a real difference.
MARQUEL HARLAN
Board Member
Marquel Harlan started her coaching career as a volunteer at her local community center. To date, she has coached at all levels from Little League to high school. She coaches basketball and strength and conditioning. She currently serves as the School Liaison for the Winnebago Public School District, the Varsity Coach of the Winnebago Girls Basketball program, and the strength and conditioning coach for all girls in grades 7-12.
Marquel is from Winnebago, Nebraska, and is an enrolled member of the Omaha tribe. She is a first-generation college graduate and is proud to coach the program where she was once a student-athlete. Marquel has become a role model for native youth by elevating her way of life in all aspects. With an open mindset and positive attitude, her hope is to recruit more female coaches from diverse backgrounds throughout the state of Nebraska to join NWALA and emphasize the positive representation of women leading female sports.
KIM MILLER
Board Member
Kim Miller, originally from Treynor, Iowa, is your typical small-town athlete and coach. While in high school, she was a five-sport athlete – volleyball, cross country, basketball, track, and softball. Her traditional college years began at Simpson College, where she played basketball and softball. Kim then transferred to Midland Lutheran College, where she was the GPAC Softball Player of the Year as a catcher in 2005.
Kim's coaching experience mirrors her playing experience. She has coached everything from youth volleyball, basketball, and softball/baseball to multiple levels of club basketball teams, as well as varsity volleyball, basketball, track, and softball, in roles from assistant to head coach, including coaching girls and boys. Kim is the Business and Technology teacher at Plainview and holds the roles of head volleyball and assistant girls’ basketball coach. Currently in her fourth year at Plainview, she has been a part of some of the most successful seasons the school has seen, including consecutive District Runner-Ups in volleyball and a state tournament appearance in basketball.
A self-proclaimed jack of all sports, master of none, Kim looks to her role in NWALA as an opportunity. She believes the amelioration sports can bring to life is second to none, and this would only have happened with her former coaches, peers, and role models. The goal now is to have that same influence on others, whether it be as a coach or colleague or through the goals and actions of NWALA in its support of the female leadership in Nebraska.
KATIE PALMQUIST
Board Member
Katie Palmquist grew up in Omaha attending Millard South High School where she played basketball and softball. After high school, she attended Southwest Minnesota State University where she played collegiate softball. Athletics have always been a part of her life and strongly influenced her to start coaching. Katie’s first year of teaching was at Elkhorn Middle School paired with coaching softball at Elkhorn South. After her first year, she ventured back to Millard to teach and coach. Katie spent the next 9 years coaching softball at Millard South. In 2022 she accepted the head softball job and assistant athletic director position at Omaha Westview, a new school in class A. In her third season at Westview, she was named Metro Conference Coach of the Year and hopes to continue to build her new program and school for success.
As a Board Member, Katie hopes to utilize NWALA to encourage, empower, and promote women in leadership positions. Being visible role models for young girls can inspire future generations to pursue their ambitions fearlessly as her female role models have done for her. Katie is honored to be a part of NWALA where women are embraced allowing their vast potential, talent, ideas, and perspectives to be brought to the table, making teams, organizations, and communities stronger and more inclusive.
HANNAH TRUE
Board Member
Hannah True is an Athletic Trainer at Buena Vista High School in Omaha, Nebraska, where she focuses on injury prevention, management, and overall wellness for student-athletes. Prior to her role in athletic training, Hannah gained valuable experience as an EMT and autopsy technician, giving her a solid foundation in emergency medicine and trauma care.
Passionate about advocating for women in athletics, Hannah is committed to supporting those pursuing careers in sports, medicine, and higher education. Outside of work, she enjoys photography, gardening, running (including 5Ks, 10Ks, and half-marathons), lifting, kayaking, hiking, and scuba diving. With her comprehensive expertise, she is dedicated to helping athletes stay healthy, recover effectively, and thrive both on and off the field.
