PEORIA, Ill. -- Jenny Maurer, the former head coach at Lehigh University, a Division I program from the Patriot League, has been named the eighth head coach in Bradley Volleyball history.

A two-time All-America student-athlete at NCAA Division III power Washington University in St. Louis, Maurer enjoyed steady success in her first college coaching position at Lehigh.  She inherited a program that was 0-29 in 2006 and had managed only a 9-74 combined record in three years prior to her arrival.  During her four years with the Mountain Hawks, Maurer led Lehigh to an improved record in each season, culminating with a 13-13 ledger in 2010.  She also coached Lehigh into the four-team Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2003 with a 7-7 conference record in 2009 and she improved her squad's RPI by 130 spots during her four years.

"Jenny Maurer represented all of the qualities that we were seeking when we began our search," said Bradley Director of Athletics Dr. Michael Cross.  "She is a smart, driven and energetic professional who has led successful cultures and programs throughout her career.  She is a gifted communicator with tremendous values that impressed everyone who met her during the interview process.  Everyone we spoke to around the country had high praise for Jenny as a person and a coach."

Maurer coached four All-Patriot League players at Lehigh, as well as the 2009 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year.  Academically, Maurer mentored 12 student-athletes in her first three years who earned a spot on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.  Her program also has been active in community service activities and twice was the leading fundraiser, per student-athlete, for the C.O.A.C.H. Adopt-A-Family event at Lehigh.

"I am extremely grateful to Dr. Cross for having the confidence in my ability to lead the Bradley Volleyball program," said Maurer.  "After meeting Dr. Cross, President (Joanne) Glasser, the search committee and the administrative staff, it became clear to me that Bradley University represents everything I value:  a strong academic reputation, a forward-thinking and innovative University, the desire and support to achieve athletic success and the opportunity to surround myself with people of strong character.

"As a volleyball coach, it is exciting to practice and compete in such an impressive athletic facility as the brand new Renaissance Coliseum," Maurer added.  "With Bradley competing in the highly-competitive Missouri Valley Conference and the school's close proximity to some of the best volleyball players in the Midwest, it is positioned to build a successful program.  I am looking forward to meeting the team and cannot wait to get to work giving Bradley University and the Peoria community yet another team to be proud of."

Prior to entering the college ranks, Maurer was the varsity head coach at St. Joseph's Academy in St. Louis, where she compiled a 182-63 (.743) record in seven seasons and won five district and sectional championships.  After finishing fourth in the 2003 Missouri Class 4 state tournament, St. Joseph's was the state runner-up in 2004, 2005 and 2006 and ranked among the nation's top 100 high school programs in each of her final four years.  She coached five all-state performers and sent 13 student-athletes on to college programs at all levels, including two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) NCAA Division I All-American Bridget Fonke.

Maurer began her coaching career at the club level in 2000, directing the Kirkwood (Mo.) Volleyball Club 14U team to four local and regional tournament titles and a top-10 finish at the AAU national championships in her only season with the program.  The four tournament titles were the first for the team in its third year together.  While at Lehigh, Maurer also worked closely with the Court Authority Volleyball Academy in Bethlehem, Pa., as a coaching consultant.  This past season, she was an assistant for the #1 CAVA 15 and under squad that qualified for the Open Championship, a first in the club's history.

Maurer earned her bachelor's degree in psychology in 1999 from Washington University, where she played for legendary volleyball coach Teri Clemens, the winningest coach by percentage (529-77, .873) in NCAA Division III history.  A four-year letterwinner and two-time national champion, Maurer earned first-team All-America honors from the AVCA and Asics/Volleyball Magazine in 1997 and 1998 and she was named to the Final Four All-Tournament Team after helping Washington to the 1996 national title.  A three-time all-conference and all-region selection, Maurer also was a three-time Division III national player of the week.