Florida Tech Panthers Hire Jordan Willis as Head Volleyball Coach

By  //  February 4, 2023

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Florida Tech Director of Athletics Jamie Joss has named Jordan Willis the new head coach of the Panther volleyball program. (Florida Tech image)

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Florida Tech Director of Athletics Jamie Joss has named Jordan Willis the new head coach of the Panther volleyball program.

“It was evident throughout the interviews with our team that they were drawn to Jordan’s positive, enthusiastic, and passionate coaching personality, and volleyball knowledge as a setter, and his coaching experience in building successful programs at all levels,” Joss said.

“Jordan is committed to leveraging Florida Tech’s highly respected academic programs to recruit academically focused, high character elite volleyball talent from across the state, region, country, and the world.

“Jordan is ready to build on the foundation that Ashlee Crowder built over the past two seasons to challenge the tremendous volleyball programs in the Sunshine State Conference to win a championship and advance to the NCAA tournament.”

Willis comes to Florida Tech from Davis & Elkins College, where he served as head coach of the Senators since June 2020.

“I am very excited about this opportunity,” said Willis.

“I want to thank Jamie Joss and the rest of the search committee for their time and efforts throughout this process. Florida Tech is a fantastic school that competes in a great conference. I am looking forward to developing, growing, and helping the program reach new heights. The potential for this volleyball team is tremendous.”

In his three seasons at D&E, Willis guided the Senators to a 38-31 record, including a 27-15 mark in the Mountain East Conference and three MEC tournament appearances.

Prior to his time at D&E, Willis spent five seasons at Otero Junior College, where he led the Rattlers to their first Region IX championship, a seventh-place national finish, and a trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Tournament appearance.

Willis, the winningest coach in OJC history by percentage, posted an 89-48 (.649) mark in his four seasons. He produced the first All-American in program history in Brilane Manchengo, in addition to three All-Region selections. He led the squad to its first national ranking in program history, guiding the Rattlers up to 19th in the NJCAA Poll.

Before heading to OJC, Willis spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Colorado State-Pueblo from 2011-15, where he served primarily as the offensive and recruiting coordinator. The Thunderwolves earned berths into the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament in three of his five seasons.

From 2007-10, Willis was an assistant coach at Texas A&M-Kingsville. He worked extensively in recruiting and scouting while teaching within the institution’s Department of Health and Kinesiology.

The 2007 campaign marked the first winning season for the Javelinas since 1998, as Willis was part of the second most successful coaching staff in program history.

Willis began his coaching career at St. Mary’s College of California, where he was the head coach of the men’s and women’s club volleyball teams from 2003-06.

A four-year starting setter at St. Mary’s College of California, Willis earned his Bachelor’s Degree in History in 2002 and his Master’s Degree in Physical Education in 2006.

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