Peru State Athletics
Ted Harshbarger, Associate Athletic Director
PERU, Neb. – Joan Albury will return to Peru State as its head women’s basketball coach. In addition to previously serving as coach for two seasons, Albury has been interim head coach for the program since the beginning of the second semester.
Steve Schneider, athletic director at Peru State said, “Joan is a person of integrity, understands the game, is organized, is a team player and is certainly an individual who models the values of the champions of character.”
“She will be an excellent role model for our student-athletes. We look forward to her leadership of the program.”
“I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to lead the Peru State women’s basketball program,” Albury said.
“I would like to thank everyone for their confidence in my ability to take the women’s basketball to a new level of excellence in academics, on court performance, and community service.”
Kirk Kelley, Peru State’s incoming athletic director, commented, “Joan’s passion for the program and for Peru State is very obvious. I know she is excited and we are excited to see her bring this passion to the program. It will be fun to watch the program grow.”
Albury previously served as head women’s basketball coach at Peru State for the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 seasons. After returning to Nebraska, she also served as interim head volleyball coach for the 2016-2017 season.
Albury’s head high school basketball coaching experience included seven years with stops at Morgan County (Ky.) HS, McKenzie (Tenn.) HS, Holmes County (Fla.) HS, and Bethlehem (Fla.) HS. In addition, Albury spent two years as an assistant basketball coach at Crockett Co. (Tenn.) HS and Sonoraville (Ga.) HS. Also, Albury was a head high school softball coach for five years at Morgan County HS and Bethlehem HS.
At the collegiate level, Albury’s served as an assistant basketball coach at Pikeville (Ky.) College. In addition, Albury spent eight seasons as the head volleyball coach at Union College and Lambuth University and five seasons as the head softball coach at Pikeville and Lambuth. Albury also was an assistant volleyball coach at the University of Rio Grande in Ohio.
Albury played both basketball and softball at Union College and was a three-year starter and letter winner in each. During her senior basketball season, Albury was the district’s leading three-point shooter.
In 1988, Albury graduated with a bachelor of science in math education. In 1991, Albury completed her master of arts in math education at Morehead State (Ky.) University.
Albury, and her husband Wayne, live in rural Peru. They have three children.