Youngstown State University (YSU) has named Riley Jarrett as its 11th head volleyball coach in program history, marking a significant milestone in her coaching career. Jarrett, who previously coached at Division II and Division III levels, expressed her excitement for the opportunity to lead a Division I program.
Jarrett’s coaching journey began as a graduate assistant at West Liberty (WV) in 2018, and she later took over as the head coach at the same school. During her time at West Liberty, Jarrett achieved the highest career winning percentage in program history and led the team to its first two appearances in the Division II NCAA tournament.
With her recent appointment at YSU, Jarrett is focused on building a competitive program and has already started working on roster management and recruiting efforts. She has emphasized the importance of accountability, passion, respect, and gratitude as the core values of the program.
While Jarrett acknowledges the challenges ahead, including YSU’s lack of a winning season since 2014, she remains optimistic about the future. Her short-term goal is to make it to the Horizon League tournament next year, with a long-term vision of establishing YSU as a top program in the conference.
Jarrett’s coaching philosophy revolves around diversity on offense and versatility among players, aiming to create a team that is difficult to scout and predict. She is determined to instill a culture of hard work and dedication within the program, with the ultimate goal of becoming a respected and competitive force in the Horizon League.
As Jarrett embarks on this new chapter in her coaching career, she is eager to make a positive impact on the YSU volleyball program and is committed to building a successful and sustainable team for the future.