Janelle Barrineau returned to her alma mater as assistant coach in January of 2023 and has helped lead the Rams' swift return to Atlantic 10 Conference contention.
Since 2023, the Rams have logged back-to-back winning seasons, and VCU has forged an impressive 29-7 record in league play during that period. VCU's 2024 squad won its final 14 A-10 matches on the way to a school-record 16-2 conference mark. Since 2023, VCU players have captured seven All-Atlantic 10 Conference awards, including Jasmine Knight, who collected a pair of First Team honors, and was named AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention.
In addition to VCU's success on the court, the Rams recorded a 3.86 GPA during the 2025 Spring semester, the highest in program history.
Previously, Barrineau (nee Sykes) spent five seasons as an assistant coach on Tim Doyle’s staff at William and Mary, where she helped recruit and develop several All-CAA players, including two-time First Team honoree Julia Brown. With Barrineau’s help, the Tribe won more matches in 2022 than in any season since 2013, and reached the CAA semifinals for the first time since 2009.
In May of 2022, Barrineau was named an AVCA 30 Under 30 award winner, an honor that seeks to identify rising stars in the volleyball coaching ranks.
Barrineau was a standout middle blocker for VCU from 2011-14. Her 336 career blocks rank 10th in school history and her 1.23 career blocks-per-set average is fifth-best all-time at VCU. As a senior in 2014, she hit .330 and averaged 2.82 kills and 1.20 blocks per set.
A native of Manassas, Va., she was named to the 2014 All-Atlantic 10 Conference First Team and was twice named to the A-10 All-Tournament Team. She was named A-10 Defensive Player of the Week five times during her career.
In 2015, Barrineau was selected to the Hammer Strength All-American Team for her dedication to excellence in the classroom, on the court, and within the strength and conditioning realm. She was also a two-time recipient of the Iron Ram Award at VCU. During her time as a student-athlete, she served as the team SAAC representative for three years and was a member of the SAAC Executive Board. In 2014, Barrineau was selected to attend the NCAA Career in Sports Forum. A native of Clifton, Va., Barrineau starred for Trinity Christian School in Fairfax, Va. prior to attending VCU and was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2023.
She later played professionally in Azerbaijan, where she led Azeryol Baku to the final four of the CEV Cup, as well as Belgium. In 2017 with Volley Richa Michelbeke, she ranked third in her league in blocks.
Barrineau received a Bachelor of Science in Health, Physical Education and Exercise Science from VCU in 2015. She and husband, Tommy Barrineau, wed in 2020.
