Michigan Tech volleyball coach Matt Jennings is leaving the university to purse other opportunities after finishing his 13th season in Houghton. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)

HOUGHTON — Michigan Tech Huskies volleyball coach Matt Jennings has stepped down from his position and will relocate to the Grand Rapids Area with his family. Jennings recently wrapped up his 13th season with the Huskies and ranks second in program history with 223 wins. His .587 winning percentage is the highest among the seven all-time Tech volleyball coaches. Jennings is also the chair of the NCAA Volleyball Championship Committee and will finish out the 2024 tournament in the role.

Jenning was named the Director of Volleyball Operations and an assistant coach with the Grand Rapids Rise on Tuesday. The Rise competes in the Pro Volleyball Federation, an eight-team league that is entering its second season of competition.

“Words cannot express how much Michigan Tech and the Keweenaw means to me and my family,” Jennings said. “This place has shaped me in ways that I could never have imagined when I first got here. First and foremost I want to thank the players, who, through thick and thin, dedicated themselves to turning this program into what it is today. They should be proud of what we’ve accomplished together, nothing of which would have been possible without all that they gave to the team. Until you work alongside them on a daily basis, it’s hard to grasp what it actually means to be a Husky student-athlete.

“More than anything else, I’m most proud of the program culture we’ve created here and the character of the people we’ve built this team with, starting with our assistants who each have made a lasting mark on the team,” he said. “Their dedication and loyalty were essential to making things happen.”

Under Jennings, the Huskies have gone from last place in the GLIAC to winning a pair of regular-season conference championships in the spring of 2021 and then repeated in the fall of 2021. It was only the second and third regular-season titles in program history. He was named the GLIAC Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2019 and took the Black and Gold to the NCAA Tournament in four straight seasons from 2017-21.

“Matt has been an outstanding leader of our volleyball program over the last 13 seasons, and we thank him for his dedication and hard work to take the program to new heights,” Michigan Tech Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Suzanne Sanregret said. “Four NCAA Tournament Appearances, two GLIAC Titles, and the highest winning percentage in program history are just a few of the accomplishments the program has achieved under his watch.

“He has built a culture that not only values athletic excellence, but success in the classroom as well. His players have moved on to great success in their careers and have made an impact in their communities following graduation. We are sad to see Matt go, but wish him the best as he pursues new opportunities.”

The Huskies won 136 GLIAC matches during Jennings’ tenure which is the most in program history and held a .627 winning percentage. 

The 2015 team broke the school record by winning its first 10 matches. The 2017 Huskies earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time under Jennings and the first time for the program since 2009. The 2019 squad swept Missouri-St. Louis in the first round of the tournament for the first NCAA win since 1995. The 2021 team also advanced to the NCAA Midwest Regional Semifinal after a five-set victory over Wayne State.

Over the past 13 seasons, the Huskies had six All-America honors between Laura De Marchi, Anna Jonynas, and Olivia Ghormley.  There were also 46 All-GLIAC honorees with 20 First Team selections. Jonynas (2021) and De Marchi (2020) were named the GLIAC Player of the Year, De Marchi was a five-time GLIAC Setter of the Year, Ghormley was a three-time GLIAC Attacker of the Year, Jonynas (2021) was the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year, Tess Hayes (2023) and De Marchi (2017) were named GLIAC Freshman of the Year.

De Marchi was also the 2021 AVCA Midwest Region Player of the Year, an Academic All-American, NCAA Woman of the Year nominee, and GLIAC Student-Athlete of the Year. She broke the Michigan Tech and GLIAC record for career assists with 5,531 and also holds school records for career assists per set (11.74) and season assists per set (12.72). Ghormley holds school records for career kills (1,655), Megan Utlak has the program record for career digs (1.905), and Jacqueline Aird set the digs per set record (4.44).

“Thank you to Suzanne, Joel, and everyone up here who works tirelessly to make this experience a great one for our students and our loyal fans. Your love for the Huskies is always on display. Thank you to my loving wife Mary, who trusted me enough to make the move north and has supported me every step of the way since. Being away from my family this season was only made possible through her and the love and support of the team, Mallory and Max, and everyone who I worked with this season. Being there for Mary and my young children is quite simply what I must now do.

“I will forever cherish being part of something this special and while I am very excited for what is next, I know that there will be so much about Houghton and Michigan Tech I will miss. I truly believe that there are even better days ahead for this team and am proud of where this new chapter will start from. I am a Husky for life–and now I look forward to being a No. 1 fan.”

An update to the Michigan Tech volleyball coaching staff will be provided early next week.

Jennings’ Accomplishments at Tech 

• 223-157 record in 13 seasons (Second most wins in program history)

• Highest overall winning percentage in program history (.587)

• Highest conference winning percentage in program history (.627)

• 4 NCAA Tournament Appearances

• 2 GLIAC Regular Season Titles

• 2017 and 2019 GLIAC Coach of the Year

• 6 All-Americans

• 13 Major GLIAC Volleyball Honors

• 20 All-GLIAC First Team Selections

• 46 All-GLIAC Honorees

• 7-year representative on NCAA Volleyball Championships Committee

• Finished with 8 straight trips to GLIAC Tournament Semifinals