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Faces of Blue Devil Volleyball: Jolene Nagel
4/10/2020 2:28:00 PM | Volleyball
Faces of Blue Devil Volleyball: Jolene Nagel
DURHAM, N.C. – With the launch of the Faces of Blue Devil Volleyball series, we wanted to first highlight head coach Jolene Nagel.
Nagel became Duke's fifth volleyball head coach in 1999, joining the Blue Devil staff after successful stints at Cornell and Georgetown.
"I arrived at Duke in July '99, just a few weeks before the season began," Nagel said. "The team was very welcoming, and I remember every one of them … as I do every team since. We have had some great talent, character, committed students and fighters along the way which allowed us to succeed. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity at Duke, and to have had the opportunity to work with the many talented, bright student athletes and staff along the way."
Under her guidance, Nagel has led the Blue Devils to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, including an ACC-record seven consecutive trips to the postseason event from 2005-11.
Nagel earned her 600th career victory September 9, 2017 as the Blue Devils downed TCU in straight sets. With the win, Nagel became the 22nd active NCAA Division I head coach to reach 600 career victories.
Nagel garnered her third ACC Coach of the Year and East Region Coach of the Year awards in 2010 as Duke won its third ACC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Regional Final for the first time in program history. One of the top postseason performances in school history, Duke was awarded the No. 12 national seed in the 2010 NCAA Tournament after posting a 24-6 overall record and owning the No. 13 spot in the national RPI. Nagel coached current assistant coach and Duke volleyball standout Kellie Catanach, who was ACC Player of the Year in 2010 and a three-time All-America honoree.
The Blue Devils continued to churn out 20-plus win seasons from 2005-09, advancing to the NCAA Tournament in each of those campaigns. During that span Duke placed eight players on both the All-ACC and AVCA All-East Region teams while seven Blue Devils earned All-America honors, including 2007 ACC Player of the Year Carrie DeMange.
"I have many Duke volleyball memories," Nagel said. "The regular season champion team in 2001; the Championship teams in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2013. The Championship seasons, but also the disappointing seasons that prepare us for future success; the relationships, the weddings, the job opportunities for our alums are all part of the memories."
Duke's 29 wins in 2006 established a new standard under Nagel, marking the fourth-highest single-season win total in school history. The Blue Devils' 21 ACC victories set a new conference record for most wins in a season as Duke took home its eighth ACC Championship title in school history. Nagel was named the ACC Coach of the Year, while Ali Hausfeld earned Player of the Year honors and Rachael Moss was named the league's Freshman of the Year as Duke became the first school in league history to sweep all three superlatives in the same season. Duke finished the season ranked No. 22 in the final CSTV/AVCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll after making its first appearance in the poll since 1994.
In 2001, Nagel's third season in Durham, she took home her first ACC Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Blue Devils to a 23-5 record and the ACC regular season championship. She led Duke to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1994.
"We have true women leaders as alumnae and each one of them made their mark on Duke volleyball and continue to do represent in a first-class manner in their lives," Nagel said. "We're so proud of those that have come before us and our current team wants to live up to their legacy in respect and work ethic and know they want to achieve that and beyond!"
Nagel graduated from Edinboro in 1983 and owns a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in sport management from Kent State.
One of the most decorated players in Edinboro history, Nagel was inducted into the school's hall of fame in 1997. A three-year starter from 1980-1982, she helped lead the Scots to three state and regional championships and three appearances in the national championship (one NCAA and two AIAW). A team captain, Nagel led her Edinboro squads to a 116-43 record, won three Eastern Regional Championships during her playing career and earned three All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference honors.
Nagel began her coaching career in 1983 as a graduate assistant at Kent State University following her undergraduate degree. In 1985 she accepted a position as first assistant coach at the University of North Carolina and spent three seasons in Chapel Hill before moving to on to Cornell in 1988.
In her 21 years at Duke, Nagel owns a 439-217 record, has coached four ACC Players of the Year, four ACC Defensive Players of the Year, one ACC Setter of the Year, one ACC Freshman of the Year, 18 All-Americans, 25 All-Region honorees and 26 All-ACC selections.
Nagel continues to strive for excellence on and off the court each and every year.
"My favorite thing about Duke? The excellence it stands for in every facet of the University. We all need to live up to this daily. Duke Volleyball to me means commitment, loyalty, toughness and excellence in everything we do!"
#GoDuke
Nagel became Duke's fifth volleyball head coach in 1999, joining the Blue Devil staff after successful stints at Cornell and Georgetown.
"I arrived at Duke in July '99, just a few weeks before the season began," Nagel said. "The team was very welcoming, and I remember every one of them … as I do every team since. We have had some great talent, character, committed students and fighters along the way which allowed us to succeed. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity at Duke, and to have had the opportunity to work with the many talented, bright student athletes and staff along the way."
Under her guidance, Nagel has led the Blue Devils to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, including an ACC-record seven consecutive trips to the postseason event from 2005-11.
Nagel earned her 600th career victory September 9, 2017 as the Blue Devils downed TCU in straight sets. With the win, Nagel became the 22nd active NCAA Division I head coach to reach 600 career victories.
Nagel garnered her third ACC Coach of the Year and East Region Coach of the Year awards in 2010 as Duke won its third ACC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Regional Final for the first time in program history. One of the top postseason performances in school history, Duke was awarded the No. 12 national seed in the 2010 NCAA Tournament after posting a 24-6 overall record and owning the No. 13 spot in the national RPI. Nagel coached current assistant coach and Duke volleyball standout Kellie Catanach, who was ACC Player of the Year in 2010 and a three-time All-America honoree.
The Blue Devils continued to churn out 20-plus win seasons from 2005-09, advancing to the NCAA Tournament in each of those campaigns. During that span Duke placed eight players on both the All-ACC and AVCA All-East Region teams while seven Blue Devils earned All-America honors, including 2007 ACC Player of the Year Carrie DeMange.
"I have many Duke volleyball memories," Nagel said. "The regular season champion team in 2001; the Championship teams in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2013. The Championship seasons, but also the disappointing seasons that prepare us for future success; the relationships, the weddings, the job opportunities for our alums are all part of the memories."
Duke's 29 wins in 2006 established a new standard under Nagel, marking the fourth-highest single-season win total in school history. The Blue Devils' 21 ACC victories set a new conference record for most wins in a season as Duke took home its eighth ACC Championship title in school history. Nagel was named the ACC Coach of the Year, while Ali Hausfeld earned Player of the Year honors and Rachael Moss was named the league's Freshman of the Year as Duke became the first school in league history to sweep all three superlatives in the same season. Duke finished the season ranked No. 22 in the final CSTV/AVCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll after making its first appearance in the poll since 1994.
In 2001, Nagel's third season in Durham, she took home her first ACC Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Blue Devils to a 23-5 record and the ACC regular season championship. She led Duke to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1994.
"We have true women leaders as alumnae and each one of them made their mark on Duke volleyball and continue to do represent in a first-class manner in their lives," Nagel said. "We're so proud of those that have come before us and our current team wants to live up to their legacy in respect and work ethic and know they want to achieve that and beyond!"
Nagel graduated from Edinboro in 1983 and owns a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in sport management from Kent State.
One of the most decorated players in Edinboro history, Nagel was inducted into the school's hall of fame in 1997. A three-year starter from 1980-1982, she helped lead the Scots to three state and regional championships and three appearances in the national championship (one NCAA and two AIAW). A team captain, Nagel led her Edinboro squads to a 116-43 record, won three Eastern Regional Championships during her playing career and earned three All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference honors.
Nagel began her coaching career in 1983 as a graduate assistant at Kent State University following her undergraduate degree. In 1985 she accepted a position as first assistant coach at the University of North Carolina and spent three seasons in Chapel Hill before moving to on to Cornell in 1988.
In her 21 years at Duke, Nagel owns a 439-217 record, has coached four ACC Players of the Year, four ACC Defensive Players of the Year, one ACC Setter of the Year, one ACC Freshman of the Year, 18 All-Americans, 25 All-Region honorees and 26 All-ACC selections.
Nagel continues to strive for excellence on and off the court each and every year.
"My favorite thing about Duke? The excellence it stands for in every facet of the University. We all need to live up to this daily. Duke Volleyball to me means commitment, loyalty, toughness and excellence in everything we do!"
#GoDuke
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