Matt Jennings

HOUGHTON — Michigan Tech University has announced the departure of head volleyball coach Matt Jennings after 13 years guiding the Huskies.

He ranks second in MTU history with 223 wins, while his .587 winning percentage — a 223-157 record — is the highest of the program’s all-time total of seven coaches.

Jennings is also the chairman of the NCAA Division II Volleyball Championships Committee and will finish out this year’s tournament in that role.

He is moving on to become the director of volleyball operations and an assistant coach of the Grand Rapids Rise, a team that competes in the nationwide, women’s indoor Pro Volleyball Federation and is in its second season of operation with eight teams.

Jennings’ record at MTU includes 136 GLIAC match wins and a .627 winning percentage in the league. He had two teams win the GLIAC regular-season title and four teams advance to the NCAA Tournament, and players Laura De Marchi, Anna Jonynas and Olivia Ghormley earned a total of six All-American honors, the first two each being named a GLIAC Player of the Year.

Jennings was named GLIAC Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2019, and he has been a seven-year representative on the NCAA D-II Volleyball Championships Committee.

In addition, his Huskies teams have made eight straight trips to the GLIAC Tournament semifinals.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.