Vassar College Athletics

Jonathan Penn, the winningest volleyball coach in school history with a record of 416-337, joined Vassar in 1996 as head men’s and women's volleyball coach. Currently, his combined record with both teams stands at 576-485. During his tenure Penn has led the Brewer women to the NCAA Tournament in six seasons, the last coming in 2017. Before that, the Brewers appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2006, as well as 2001-03, again finding a spot in the national tournament in 2005.

Penn led Vassar to a strong season in 2023 as the Brewers posted a mark of 17-10 overall and 6-2 against Liberty League foes. He earned his 400th career victory as the women's volleyball coach in a victory over Mount Saint Mary on September 2nd and led the Brewers back to the Liberty League Championship semifinals for the first time since 2018. First year duo Holland Kaplan and Maura McAusland each earned All-Liberty League honors with Kaplan garnering First Team honors and McAusland earning a Second Team selection. Vassar also saw a Liberty League best 10 student-athletes named to the Liberty League All-Academic Team.

Vassar returned to the court in 2021, following a 2020 season shutdown by the COVID pandemic. Playing one of the toughest schedules in the country, which included six opponents who would go on to the NCAA Tournament, the Brewers posted a 7-12 overall mark. Vassar ranked fourth in the Liberty League in digs per set - also ranking in the top-10 among the league's best in several other categories, including kills and hitting percentage. At season's end, senior captain Sara Ehnstrom - who was one of three Brewers to play in all 19 matches - was named to the All-Liberty League Second Team, while rookie outside hitter Hailey Hayes ranked fourth in the league with a 3.11 kills per set average. The squad also saw all nine upperclassmen tabbed to the league's All-Academic Team.

The Brewers posted an 8-18 overall mark during the 2019 season and was paced by Clare Basler-Chang '22, who was named to the All-Liberty League Honorable Mention Team.

During the 2018 season, the Brewers put together a 15-10 overall record, advancing to the Liberty League Semifinals. Devan Gallagher '19 was named to the All-Liberty League First Team, while Annie MacMillan '19 and Jane McLeod '20 were chosen Second Team All-Liberty League. Additionally, Gallagher was named to the AVCA All-Region First Team, while MacMillan was an Honorable Mention All-Region selection.

The 2017 campaign saw the Brewers post a 22-8 overall record, advancing to its sixth NCAA Tournament appearance. The squad was paced by Devan Gallagher '19, who was one of three All-Americans named that season.

In 2001 and 2002, Penn guided the women’s team squad to the regional semifinals, while posting eight 20-win seasons since 2001. 2016 saw Penn lead the Brewers to the most Liberty League victories in program history, winning nine times within the league while earning the right to host the Liberty League Tournament.

Penn led the Brewers to a record six straight Liberty League Championships from 2001 through 2006. The 2005 title was accomplished in near-perfect fashion, three straight sweeps of St. Lawrence, Union and Skidmore and a four-game win over Clarkson.

In all, Vassar has reached the postseason 17 times in Penn's 23 seasons at the helm, also participating in the New York State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association Championship and  the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament.

Penn had one of his career highlights in the 2014 season, as he eclipsed 300 wins with a victory over Mount Holyoke in the Seven Sisters Championships. He finished the 2016 campaign with 343 career wins, after posting his 200 victory back in 2008 with a win over Montclair State.

Penn also amassed 158 wins as head coach of the Vassar men’s volleyball team from 1996-2011. That tenure includes one conference championship, two trips to the final four, a national runner-up finish (2008) and an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Coach of the Year award.

Volleyball teams under Penn at Vassar have received 16 AVCA Team Academic awards, given to teams maintaining a 3.3 (on a 4.0 scale).

Active with the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and NYWSCAA, Penn arrived at Vassar from Santa Monica (Calif.) College where he began coaching in 1989. At Santa Monica, he served two years as the women's assistant, three as the women's associate coach. In addition, he was the men's assistant coach for three years and the head coach for three seasons.

While completing a bachelor's degree in English from UCLA in 1990 and a master's degree in Education at California State University at Hayward in 1993, Penn worked with various youth and adult programs in the greater Los Angeles area. He also served as a counselor at numerous volleyball camps.

As scholarship player at Penn State, Penn won championships on Junior Olympic squads and later competed in the Olympic Festival. In 2003-05, he coached the men’s Hudson Valley Open Division team in New York's Empire State Games, also playing in the masters Division for five years,  earning three bronze medals.

Penn and his wife Patricia have a son and a daughter, and reside in the Town of Poughkeepsie.