Cobleskill, N.Y. – SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech has announced the appointment of Jillian Nitchman '22 as Interim Head Women's Volleyball Coach.

Nitchman moves into the head coaching role after serving as an assistant coach with the Fighting Tigers for the past four seasons. A former standout student-athlete at Cobleskill, she has been a part of the program as both a player and coach and will now lead the Tigers into their first season of SUNYAC competition.

"Jillian has been an important part of our women's volleyball program for several years, and we're excited to have her step into the role of interim head coach," said Director of Athletics John Czarnecki. "Her familiarity with the program, commitment to our student-athletes and understanding of what it takes to be successful at Cobleskill will provide valuable continuity as we begin our first season in the SUNYAC. We're confident in her ability to lead the program moving forward."

"I'm excited for this next step in my coaching career, especially as we enter a new conference this year," said Nitchman. "I think this is the perfect team to begin this next chapter with, and I can't wait to see what the season holds. I'd like to thank our Director of Athletics, John Czarnecki, for giving me this opportunity and trusting me to lead the program."

During her time with the program, Nitchman has helped the Fighting Tigers make five consecutive postseason appearances, including four as an assistant coach and one as a student-athlete. As an assistant, she played a key role in the Tigers capturing a North Atlantic Conference West Division title and has been instrumental in the development of the program's student-athletes, helping eight players earn all-conference honors.

"I'm excited to continue building a culture where everyone is working toward the same goals, both on and off the court," said Nitchman. "I want us to be a competitive team that works together, supports one another and continues to grow throughout the season."

Nitchman was a member of the Cobleskill women's volleyball program from 2018-22. During her senior season, she helped lead the Fighting Tigers to an appearance in the NAC Championship match and was named to the All-NAC Sportsmanship Team.

In addition to her work with the women's volleyball program, Nitchman has served as an assistant coach with the Cobleskill softball team and as the camp coordinator. During her playing days, she was also a member of the Cobleskill softball program.