University of La Verne Athletic Director Julie Kline today named Jenna Panatier as head coach of the Leopards’ volleyball team. 

Panatier has eight years of head coaching experience to her credit, including four years at NCAA Division I Colgate University. Prior to that, she spent four seasons coaching Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) rival Occidental College.

"Coach Panatier is the total package for the University of La Verne volleyball program," said Kline.  "Her track record of success is evident by the impact she has had with every program she has been a part of.  Her passion for providing the student-athletes with the highest level quality experience along with her understanding of excellence associated with Leopard volleyball will undoubtedly lead the program in a direction that is consistent with its rich history."

Most recently, Panatier served as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Lipscomb University (Tenn.), helping the Lady Bison clinch the 2007 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship – the program’s first volleyball conference title in school history. She also recruited and trained Lipscomb middle blocker Alex Kelly, the 2008 Atlantic Sun Player of the Year.

Panatier was head coach at Colgate University (N.Y.) from 2002-06. In 2003 she doubled the Raiders’ win total from the previous year and ended her tenure having recruited and trained the 2004 and ’06 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year.

No stranger to the SCIAC, Panatier led the Occidental program from 1998-02. During her time with the Tigers she doubled the roster size and improved the overall record from 2-20 to 16-9. In 2000, her squad handed La Verne its only conference defeat of the season, a three-game sweep, and outside hitter Andrea Ohta was selected SCIAC Player of the Year.

"I am thrilled and honored to be given the opportunity to lead this storied program,” Panatier said.  “La Verne volleyball has a rich history, a winning tradition, and student-athletes who represent the excellence of the university.  As ambassadors of this institution, our team's passion, energy, respect and dignity will influence everything we do on and off the court.  Together we will return our program to its elite national status."

Panatier enjoyed an outstanding collegiate playing career at St. John’s University (N.Y.), where she was team captain during the 1996 and ’97 seasons. She was team MVP in 1995 and received the St. John's Outstanding Woman in Sports Award in 1998. A true student-athlete, she earned Academic All-America honors three straight years (1996-98) and was chosen to the Big East Conference Academic All-Star Team all four years.

The Van Nuys, Calif., native graduated from St. John's with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management and Business in 1998, and earned an MBA from Lipscomb in 2008.

La Verne is one of the nation’s premier NCAA Division III women’s volleyball programs. The Leopards, winners of three national titles (1981, 1982, 2001), have produced two national Player of the Year winners and 27 All-America selections. The program has captured 22 SCIAC championships including nine straight from 2000-08. During that same nine-year span, La Verne reached the national semifinals five times and was one of only three schools rated in the final Division III Top 10 rankings all nine seasons.