Kevin Rodgers recently completed his third year as ESU’s head volleyball coach in 2019 after guiding the Warriors to an overall record of 29-7 and the program's first PSAC championship since 1987.
Rodgers took the Warriors back to the PSAC Tournament for a second consecutive season as ESU recorded its best record since 1996 (32-2) and its most NCAA DII wins in a season in program history. The Warriors also made their second-ever appearance in the NCAA DII Women's Volleyball Championship after earning the No. 3 seed in the Atlantic Region.
The Warriors set a program record with 16 PSAC victories and finished the regular season with a 13-2 mark at Koehler Fieldhouse. ESU notched 10 consecutive victories from Oct. 5 - Nov. 1 with historical wins coming against Cal U. (Oct. 18), Seton Hill (Oct. 19), and Lock Haven (Oct. 26). The back-to-back 20-win seasons are a first for ESU since 1996-97, while the consecutive double-figure conference wins in a season are a program-first.
Rodgers was named PSAC Coach of the Year following the 2019 season, while redshirt junior Trea-sureKetter garnered PSAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Senior Sarah Smith was named first-team All-PSAC along with Ketter (second team) and senior Sam Dunphy (second team). Ketter and Smith both earned AVCA and D2CCA All-Atlantic Region honors, while Ketter was named to the D2CCA All-America Honorable Mention team. Ketter led all of DII in total blocks (185) and finished second in blocks per set (1.57).
Rodgers led the Warriors to their first PSAC tournament appearance since 2008 and their first 20-win season since in 12 years during the 2018 campaign. ESU went 20-11 overall, including a 7-5 record against teams that qualified for the Division II tournament the previous year.
Among the highlights from 2018 was a 3-0 sweep over defending DII national semifinalists Gannon on Sept. 14, and a 3-1 win over defending PSAC champions Pitt-Johnstown on Sept. 28. Junior outside hitter Sarah Smith was ESU’s first All-Region performer since 2009, and she and junior middle blocker Jasmine Williams gave the Warriors multiple All-PSAC selections for the first time in a decade.
The Warriors went 10-8 against PSAC opponents, finishing in second place in the Southeast division for the third year in a row. ESU led the conference and ranked sixth nationally in blocks per set (2.56), while Williams topped the PSAC and was ninth in DII individually in blocks per set (1.31). Smith’s 3.96 kills per set were second among PSAC attackers.
Rodgers led ESU to a 17-13 campaign in his debut season, as the program finished with its first winning record since 2006. Included in those 17 wins were impressive victories over three teams that advanced to the NCAA tournament.
New Haven, which ESU swept 3-0 on Sept. 8, advanced to the Elite Eight, and the Warriors earned a 3-1 win on Oct. 28 over a Gannon squad which made it to the Final Four before falling in five sets to national runner-up Florida Southern.
Rodgers also guided ESU to their first victories since 2006 over traditional PSACfrontrunners West Chester and Clarion. At the conclusion of the season, Smith was recognized as the Warriors’ first All-PSAC performer in five years. ESU finished the year ranked second in the PSAC and 23rd nationally in blocks per set, and the Warriors also made noticeable improvements in attack percentage, aces per set and digs per set.
Prior to joining ESU, Rodgers served as the top assistant coach for Bucknell’s women’s volleyball team during the 2016 season. He was previously the head men’s coach at Ramapo College of New Jersey, an assistant women’s coach at FDU-Florham and a head and assistant coach for the volleyball programs at his alma mater, New Jersey City University.
Rodgers assisted with all aspects of Bucknell’s Division I Patriot League program during his time with the Bison, including a heavy emphasis on recruiting. Prior to joining Bucknell, he spent four years leading the men’s squad at Ramapo, accumulating an overall record of 83-57 and a conference record of 49-9.
Rodgers guided the Roadrunners to winning records every year, highlighted by a 25-11 campaign in 2014. He coached 12 All-Skyline Conference performers, including seven first-team selections and two Rookies of the Year, while leading Ramapo to conference tournament appearances all four seasons.
In addition to his head coaching responsibilities at Ramapo, Rodgers served as an assistant for the women’s team at FDU-Florham during the 2013 and 2014 campaigns. The Devils posted 33 wins in his two seasons with the program, including a 12-win improvement during his first year, and made gains in every statistical category during his tenure.
Rodgers also worked as the head girls volleyball coach at Central Volleyball Academy from 2012-14, coaching eight future Division I players. The team was ranked fourth out of 70 squads in the Garden Empire Volleyball Association in the 17s division in 2013 and moved up to second out of 49 in the 18s division the following year.
As an undergrad, Rodgers left NJCU as the only player in program history to accumulate 1,250+ kills and 1,000+ digs. He continues to be ranked No. 2 all-time in kills (1,297) and No. 4 in digs (1,014). The Gothic Knights were 71-55 during his four years, with three postseason appearances, and Rodgers was a two-time All-NECVA Metro Division performer.
After totaling a 31-29 record while assisting NJCU’s men’s team in 2010 and 2011, Rodgers was elevated to head coach of the men’s and women’s programs for the 2011-12 academic year. The men’s team had three all-conference performers as well as the Skyline Conference’s Rookie of the Year, finishing the season with a 9-5 record in Skyline matchups.
Rodgers is the 12th head coach in ESU women’s volleyball program history. He graduated from NJCU with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and he received his master’s degree in sports administration from FDU in May 2015.12th head coach in ESU women’s volleyball program history. He graduated from NJCU with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and he received his master’s degree in sports administration from FDU in May 2015.
