ROCHESTER, NY – The Nazareth Athletic Department has selected local volleyball head coach Tara Jehlen to take over as the head coach of the Women's Volleyball team. Jehlen will begin her duties as head coach in the coming weeks and takes over the women's program as veteran head coach Cal Wickens will focus on the men's volleyball program.

"I'm really excited to bring the type of quality coach that Tara is to our department", said Director of Athletics Pete Bothner. "She is only going to enhance our community".

Jehlen has established herself as a successful head coach after 22 seasons as the head coach at Monroe Community College. She has recorded more than 500 career victories, has been selected as the Region III Coach of the Year five times and led the Tribunes to the 2015 Regional Championship and a fourth-place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament.

The 1999 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh played volleyball for the Panthers and earned a degree in psychology. The graduate of Rush-Henrietta HS was a standout setter for Pitt and led the team with 1,024 assists in 1997 and was a two-time Big East All-Academic team selection.

"I am excited to have the opportunity to bring my experience and knowledge of volleyball to the Nazareth program," said Jehlen. "I can't wait to get started and continue my coaching career with the women's team that has experienced great success over the past several years. I have watched the program excel and I look to continue the level of accomplishments of the program and continue to compete for conference title and beyond every year."

At MCC, Jehlen earned her 400th career win in 2015 and surpassed the 500-career win plateau in 2021.

Nazareth advanced to the Empire 8 Tournament for the 17th consecutive year in 2022 with five conference titles during the stretch.