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Jason Kepner, an All-American during his collegiate career at Penn State, is entering his fifth year as an assistant coach with the Panthers.
Kepner's responsibilities include serving as the Panthers' in-house recruiting coordinator and arranging team travel. He also assists with the Panthers' camps and on-court training.
For the upcoming season, he has helped recruit what this staff believes to be their most talented group of recruits to date. "We'll be young, but we'll be a team that can compete in every match we play," said Kepner. "I'm excited for this year. It's a new beginning, and we've got a good group coming in."
While part of the Pittsburgh staff, Kepner has helped guide the Panthers to a conference title and two players to be named "Big East Player of the Year." Under his guidance, Pitt student-athletes have captured conference honors every year. He's additionally been part of a staff that's never had a losing season, compiling a record of 84-39.
In 2005, he helped coach three Panthers to All-Big East honors and Megan McGrane and Diana Andreyko to AVCA regional honors. The recruiting class he helped to obtain made an immediate impact as setter Nicole Taurence earned Big East Rookie of the Week honors on October 3. Additionally, Jessica Moses developed into the team's leading blocker. His 2006 class is projected to make similar contributions with Michelle Rossi starting at libero and Meagan Dooley, one of the nation's top recruits, vying for some playing time at middle hitter.
Kepner joined the Panthers from Nicholls State, where he served as an assistant coach for the 2001 season. There, he was responsible for assisting with the planning and organizing of all phases of the volleyball program, including recruiting, practice and match preparation as well as monitoring student-athletes' academics.
Prior to Nicholls State, Kepner served as the head coach of the Club Vegas Girls 18's from 2000-01 and the Las Vegas Volleyball Club Boys 18's from 1998-2000.
Kepner enjoyed an outstanding playing career as an outside hitter at Penn State (1993-97), where he earned AVCA and Volleyball Magazine All-America (second team) honors as a senior in 1997. A member of the 1994 National Championship team, Kepner ranks fourth all-time for the Nittany Lions with 88 career service aces. He is also among the all-time leaders in digs and kills in Penn State annals.
In addition, Kepner boasts a wealth of international playing experience. Following his collegiate career, he played professionally in Holland (1997-98) and was a member of the USA National B Team that competed in the 1997 World University Games in Sicily. Kepner was also a member of the USA Junior National Team in 1991 and was a first team All-American and Silver Division MVP as a member of the 1995 USA Open Nationals Team Reston.
Kepner is a 1997 graduate of Penn State with a bachelor's degree in administration of justice.
