Volleyball
- Title:
- Women's Volleyball Assistant Coach
Chicago native Matt Jennings enters his third season as an assistant coach on the Pitt volleyball staff. Jennings serves as the recruiting coordinator and specializes in the development of each student-athlete in the gym. He works specifically with the passing, defensive and outside hitting elements of the team. Jennings[apos] other responsibilities include scouting opponents, tape exchange, team marketing, balancing the budget and other external affairs associated with the program.
As the recruiting coordinator, Jennings played a pivotal role in the signing of three high school All-Americans this fall, including Mechael Guess, Jessica Wynn and Lindsey Zitzke. Pitt was also rated as a [quote]High Honorable Mention[quote] selection by PrepVolleyball.com, as eight newcomers are expected to elevate the program when they don a Panther uniform in the fall.
This past season, Jennings guided first-year libero Margy Acton to a school record 45 digs against Robert Morris on Oct. 19 at Fitzgerald Field House. Acton surpassed the previous mark of 39 held by Panther great Michelle Rossi (also under Jennings[apos] watch) in 2009.
Additionally, Jennings was instrumental in outside hitter Amy Town[apos]s stellar collegiate career. The two-time team captain and All-Big East selection was named Pitt[apos]s 2011 Panther Award recipient for her outstanding athletic achievement during her four-year career. As a member of Pitt[apos]s Varsity Walk, Town is listed among the program[apos]s top-10 in all-time career kills.
During the 2009 season, Jennings[apos] defensive training helped produce one of the most potent defenses in the Big East, which led to Michelle Rossi being named the conference Libero of the Year. The Panthers were also considered one of the best passing teams in the league as they averaged less than one passing error per set.
In addition to coaching at Pitt, Jennings currently serves as head coach of the Pittsburgh Elite VBC under 18 team; one of Pittsburgh[apos]s oldest and most respected club programs. He is assisted by former Panther standout Meagan Dooley, who was an All-America selection and 2009 Big East Player of The Year. Most recently, Jennings[apos] squad finished ninth overall in the gold bracket at the Northeast Qualifier in Baltimore. Last season, Jennings led his club team to a berth in the 2010 AAU national championship tournament in Orlando.
Prior to joining the Panthers, Jennings served as an assistant coach for Big East member DePaul University in his hometown of Chicago. As a Blue Demon, he served as the program[apos]s recruiting and travel coordinator and was also responsible for breaking down the team[apos]s opponents on film. During his one season in Lincoln Park, DePaul won a program record conference matches since joining the Big East. Its four-set victory over St. John[apos]s marked the first-ever time DePaul had beaten a No. 1 ranked team in the conference.
Jennings spent the 2008 season as an assistant coach at Eastern Kentucky University under Pittsburgh native Lori Duncan. As the first assistant coach at EKU, Jennings served as the recruiting coordinator and was responsible for match preparation, travel, home event management, camps and served as an academic liaison for the volleyball team.
During Jennings[apos] stint at EKU he helped mentor Brittany Nobilio, the former NCAA record holder for digs per set. Nobilio also ranks among the top 10 all-time in career digs.
Jennings began his collegiate coaching career in Davenport, Iowa at St. Ambrose University (2004-06), where he was the head men[apos]s volleyball coach and the head women[apos]s junior varsity coach. He also assisted with the women[apos]s varsity squad. During his tenure at the NAIA school, he doubled the size of the men[apos]s squad and helped the program transition into the more competitive Mid-American Men[apos]s Volleyball Intercollegiate Conference (MAMVIC).
In just his first season at the helm of the program, Jennings led his squad to a second-place finish in the Chicagoland Collegiate Volleyball Association Conference. During that same season, his squad was ranked in the top 10 of the NAIA volleyball poll for six consecutive weeks. While at St. Ambrose he coached five all-conference selections and the 2005 Newcomer of the Year. Just one season after handing over the program[apos]s reins to his former captain and assistant Bill Gleeson, Jennings[apos] recruits took the program to the top of the conference standings and earned themselves a spot in the NAIA national tournament. The program hasn[apos]t had a losing season since.
Jennings got his first taste of coaching volleyball on the international level in May of 2008 when he served as head coach of a USA Athletes International Men[apos]s Team that competed in the Scottish Open Volleyball Tournament in Perth, Scotland. The team posted a 5-0 record and won the tournament by beating the Scottish National Team in the final match.
As an undergraduate at Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., Jennings was a four-year starter and two-time captain of the school[apos]s men[apos]s team. He led Augustana to three straight NIRSA top-10 finishes and was named all-conference twice, as well as, the team MVP as a senior. After a third-place finish at the 2002 NIRSA National Championship in Dallas, Texas, Jennings was named a second team All-America honoree.
An outside hitter and three-year varsity starter for Barrington High School from 1995-99, Jennings was named a co-captain, MVP, all-area and all-conference as a senior.
Jennings received his volleyball training at two of the Midwest[apos]s most well respected club programs. As a member of Shoreline Volleyball Club (now Adversity VBC), Jennings learned under Mike Hulett, the former head coach of the United States sitting team and a medal winner at the Paralympic Games in Athens. He then took his game to Sky High VBC, one of the most successful clubs in the nation and trained under Scott Harris and Chas Kennedy. While at Sky High, Jennings[apos] team finished third in the Under 17 open division at the 1998 USAV National Championship Tournament in Dallas, Texas.
He earned his bachelor of arts in business administration and political science from Augustana in 2003 and received his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from St. Ambrose in 2006.
In addition to his coaching experience, Jennings spent time in the finance industry as well. He worked as a credit manager for Wells Fargo and a associate business analyst for the Northern Trust Company in downtown Chicago.
Jennings comes from a long line of athletes. His grandfather, Jack Jennings was a standout defensive lineman at Ohio State and spent eight seasons on the offensive line with the NFL[apos]s Chicago Cardinals.
Jennings[apos] mother Teresa played field hockey at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and was named the [quote]Sports Woman of the Year.[quote] His sister Kelly was a four-year starting setter at Eastern Kentucky and holds the EKU and Ohio Valley Conference record for career- and single-season assists. She currently coaches club volleyball in Ft. Myers, Florida.
Jennings and his dog Kaya live in Squirrel Hill.
