Completed Event: Volleyball versus California on November 28, 2025 , Loss , 2, to, 3
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Final
Volleyball
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Photo by: Nat LeDonne / Duke Athletics
Nagel Retires After 27 Seasons Leading the Blue Devils
12/1/2025 2:00:00 PM | Volleyball
DURHAM, N.C. – Following nearly three decades of dedicated leadership, Duke volleyball head coach Jolene Nagel has announced her retirement, concluding an extraordinary era for the Blue Devils.
Nagel's retirement allows her to prioritize her long-term health and well-being as she prepares for upcoming knee surgeries.
"I'm proud to be a Blue Devil, and I want to thank Duke University, Duke Athletics, our administration and staff, our alumni, fellow coaches, fans and, most importantly, the Duke student-athletes I've had the privilege to coach," said Nagel. "I'm also grateful for the associate and assistant coaches who have worked tirelessly for Duke Volleyball throughout the years.
"A special thank you goes to my husband, Sam, and to our sons, CJ and Tyler Carpenter, for being the greatest support system and biggest cheerleaders of Duke Volleyball. They always understood the demands of the job and supported me wholeheartedly.
"I am grateful, blessed and appreciative to have coached the many talented and gifted student-athletes that Duke University attracts, and it has been an honor to lead this program for 27 seasons."
Named Duke's head coach in 1999, Nagel guided the Blue Devils to 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, including seven consecutive postseason trips from 2005-11.
Duke recorded 20 or more wins in 14 of Nagel's 27 campaigns and regularly finished among the top three in the conference. She led the Blue Devils to four ACC Championships (2001, 2006, 2010, 2013) and was named the ACC Coach of the Year four times (2001, 2006, 2010, 2013).
One of just 39 coaches in Division I volleyball history to eclipse 700 career wins, Nagel concludes her 38-year coaching career with 717 victories. She is Duke's all-time winningest coach with 514 victories. Her career wins total ranks No. 37 among all Division I coaches, a mark that also stands fifth nationally among active head coaches.
"We offer our heartfelt congratulations to Coach Nagel, Sam and their family on an amazing coaching career," said Vice President and King-Compton Families Director of Athletics Nina King. "Jolene's care and compassion for her players, staff and everyone around her are unmatched, and we are truly grateful for her tremendous service to Duke. Her legacy will live on through the profound impact she has had on the lives of so many student-athletes."
Under her guidance throughout her career, 20 student-athletes have earned All-America honors (35 total awards), 26 have garnered All-Region recognition (53 total awards) and 29 have collected All-ACC selections (56 total awards), highlighted by four ACC Players of the Year, five ACC Defensive Players of the Year, one ACC Setter of the Year, one ACC Freshman of the Year and three East Region Freshmen of the Year.
Among active ACC head coaches, Nagel ranks second in career wins, trailing only Florida State's head coach Chris Poole, who also leads all active Division I coaches in total victories.
Before beginning her decades-long run at Duke, Nagel spent four seasons at Cornell, collecting 85 wins, leading the Big Red to their first Ivy League title and securing three straight first-place finishes in league standings from 1989-91. She then spent seven seasons at Georgetown, amassing 118 victories and guiding the Hoyas to a share of the 1998 Big East regular-season championship.
Prior to launching her coaching career, Nagel was a standout player at Edinboro, earning induction into the university's Hall of Fame in 1997. From 1980-82, she helped lead the Scots to three state and regional championships and three national tournament appearances. She captained the team to a 116-43 record and earned three All-PSAC honors. Before Edinboro, she excelled at Panama Central, where her accomplishments later earned her induction into the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
For more information on Duke volleyball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram by searching for "DukeVB".
#GoDuke
Nagel's retirement allows her to prioritize her long-term health and well-being as she prepares for upcoming knee surgeries.
"I'm proud to be a Blue Devil, and I want to thank Duke University, Duke Athletics, our administration and staff, our alumni, fellow coaches, fans and, most importantly, the Duke student-athletes I've had the privilege to coach," said Nagel. "I'm also grateful for the associate and assistant coaches who have worked tirelessly for Duke Volleyball throughout the years.
"A special thank you goes to my husband, Sam, and to our sons, CJ and Tyler Carpenter, for being the greatest support system and biggest cheerleaders of Duke Volleyball. They always understood the demands of the job and supported me wholeheartedly.
"I am grateful, blessed and appreciative to have coached the many talented and gifted student-athletes that Duke University attracts, and it has been an honor to lead this program for 27 seasons."
Named Duke's head coach in 1999, Nagel guided the Blue Devils to 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, including seven consecutive postseason trips from 2005-11.
Duke recorded 20 or more wins in 14 of Nagel's 27 campaigns and regularly finished among the top three in the conference. She led the Blue Devils to four ACC Championships (2001, 2006, 2010, 2013) and was named the ACC Coach of the Year four times (2001, 2006, 2010, 2013).
One of just 39 coaches in Division I volleyball history to eclipse 700 career wins, Nagel concludes her 38-year coaching career with 717 victories. She is Duke's all-time winningest coach with 514 victories. Her career wins total ranks No. 37 among all Division I coaches, a mark that also stands fifth nationally among active head coaches.
"We offer our heartfelt congratulations to Coach Nagel, Sam and their family on an amazing coaching career," said Vice President and King-Compton Families Director of Athletics Nina King. "Jolene's care and compassion for her players, staff and everyone around her are unmatched, and we are truly grateful for her tremendous service to Duke. Her legacy will live on through the profound impact she has had on the lives of so many student-athletes."
Under her guidance throughout her career, 20 student-athletes have earned All-America honors (35 total awards), 26 have garnered All-Region recognition (53 total awards) and 29 have collected All-ACC selections (56 total awards), highlighted by four ACC Players of the Year, five ACC Defensive Players of the Year, one ACC Setter of the Year, one ACC Freshman of the Year and three East Region Freshmen of the Year.
Among active ACC head coaches, Nagel ranks second in career wins, trailing only Florida State's head coach Chris Poole, who also leads all active Division I coaches in total victories.
Before beginning her decades-long run at Duke, Nagel spent four seasons at Cornell, collecting 85 wins, leading the Big Red to their first Ivy League title and securing three straight first-place finishes in league standings from 1989-91. She then spent seven seasons at Georgetown, amassing 118 victories and guiding the Hoyas to a share of the 1998 Big East regular-season championship.
Prior to launching her coaching career, Nagel was a standout player at Edinboro, earning induction into the university's Hall of Fame in 1997. From 1980-82, she helped lead the Scots to three state and regional championships and three national tournament appearances. She captained the team to a 116-43 record and earned three All-PSAC honors. Before Edinboro, she excelled at Panama Central, where her accomplishments later earned her induction into the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
For more information on Duke volleyball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram by searching for "DukeVB".
#GoDuke
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