Jolene Shepardson is departing the San José State volleyball program after six years at the helm of the program to be the head coach at her alma mater South Florida.
Shepardson compiled a 72-105 record with the Spartans. The program had back-to-back winning seasons in 2017 and 2018, the first time in over 15 years. The 2018 team finished with a 16-11 overall record and 11-7 in the Mountain West. The 11 conference wins were the most since joining the conference in 2013. The team finished fourth in the MW standings, the best since joining the MW and highest in a conference since 2006.
"It is a bittersweet day to be leaving a program and family we have been a part of for the last six years," said Shepardson. "I am forever thankful to Marie Tuite and Gene Bleymaier for their trust and mentorship in allowing me to lead the Spartan Volleyball and Beach Volleyball programs. I have been honored by the relationships built with all the student-athletes, families, fellow coaches, donors and fans of Spartan Athletics. You all have become a part of my family, and I will miss you dearly. I am grateful for all I have learned and wish Spartan Volleyball, Beach Volleyball and Spartan Athletics the brightest of futures."
"It is a 'bittersweet' day for San José State. We will miss dearly the entire Shepardson family, and we are very excited for Jolene to return 'home' and build a championship program. I want to thank Jolene and her husband Aaron for their dedication to San José State and our volleyball programs," said Spartan Director of Athletics Marie Tuite. "Their dedication, vision and passion to compete in the formidable Mountain West Conference and move our beach program forward are very much appreciated. We wish Jolene and her family the very best, and we look forward to the next chapter of San José State volleyball."
San José State recorded a winning non-conference record in five of the six years and won the Spartan Invitational (2016), Drake Invitational (2017) and Northern Colorado Tournament (2018). The 2017 team got off to an 11-4 start, the most wins through the month of September since 2001.
With upsets on their mind, the Spartans defeated MW champion Colorado State at Spartan Gym in 2016 and 2017. The 2017 win stopped the Rams 15-match winning streak and gave SJSU its first win over a ranked opponent since 2001. The 2016 team defeated Colorado State for the first time since 1998 and ended the Rams' 31-MW match winning streak.
In the classroom, 10 Spartans have earned 19 Mountain Scholar Athlete accolades and 18 players have earned 35 Academic All-Mountain West honors in four years. Four Spartan players were honored as Arthur Ashe Junior Sports Scholars including Jamie Hirai who was a three-time first team selection.
# # #