Fresno State volleyball team gets Big 10 championship veteran as new head coach

The+Fresno+State+volleyball+team+celebrates+a+Bulldog+point+in+the+first+Mountain+West+conference+game+of+the+season+at+the+Save+Mart+Center+in+November+2022.+%28Blake+Wolf%2FThe+Collegian%29

The Fresno State volleyball team celebrates a Bulldog point in the first Mountain West conference game of the season at the Save Mart Center in November 2022. (Blake Wolf/The Collegian)

By Alexis Bruno, Reporter

Leisa Rosen will take over as head coach for the Fresno State volleyball team after a disappointing season in 2022.

Last season, the ‘Dogs had an overall record of 7-23, and only won one conference match.

With the Bulldogs’ coming off of a losing season, there’s a spark in the air for volleyball as Rosen could be the answer to a winning team, especially with her experience and success throughout her career as a player herself.

At her introductory press conference on Jan. 19 she shared what she plans to achieve this coming season.

“Our expectation is to be great in the community, in the classroom, and we want to be great on the floor,” said Rosen.

She began her collegiate career at Ohio State University, where she made big standouts.

During her time there, she won two Big Ten Conference Championships and moved on to the NCAA Championship Semifinal.

While winning with her team, she also gained individual recognition and earned the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year honors.

Later, she was inducted into the Ohio State Hall of Fame in 2001.

Rosen joins the Bulldogs with 24 years of coaching experience as well, spending 22 seasons as Michigan’s volleyball assistant head coach alongside her husband who is head coach.

During her career as a Wolverine, she coached 12 players who would become All-Americans and accumulated a total of 468 victories. She led Michigan to 20 winning seasons and seven Sweet 16s appearances.

Apart from Michigan, Rosen has been on top coaching staffs at Boise State and Northern Michigan. There she took the Wildcats to a Divisional Championship and four Final Four arrivals.

“I think change is hard and change is uncomfortable for everybody but I also think change is super exciting,” added Rosen.

She ended her last coaching season at Michigan with a record of 17-13, eight of those being conference wins.

On Dec. 29, 2022, Rosen brought her success to the Central Valley as she was officially announced as head coach of the Fresno State volleyball team.