Matt Jessen was appointed as head coach for the Manhattanville University men’s and women’s volleyball teams in August of 2025.
Leading the women's team in the 2025 season, Jessen coached the Valiants to the team's fourth-straight Skyline Conference Championship, going 20-8 on the season and an undefeated 11-0 mark in conference play. Loren Hernandez captured her second-consecutive Skyline Player of the Year nod to lead Jessen's squad, while Caylin Caballero exploded onto the scene as the conference's Rookie of the Year. The duo made the All-Skyline First Team, joined by Kayla Jennings on the Second Team to warp up Jessen's first three All-Conference selections. Hernandez would further be recognized regionally as a member of the All-ECAC Team.
On the men's side, Jessen led the Valiants to an 11-14 overall record an a 9-5 mark in the Skyline Conference to earn the No. 3 seed for the Skyline Conference Championship Tournament. Manhattanville defeated No. 2 Purchase 3-1 in the semifinal round to advance to the championship finals for the first time in the program's young three-year history with Jessen on the sideline. Two Valiants-Trevor Kolar and Joe Gandarillas-would go on to earn All-Conference nods.
Jessen came to Manhattanville by way of Sacred Heart University, where he served as assistant women’s volleyball coach since July 2024. The Pioneers collected 15 wins in 2024 with Jessen on the staff in its first year competing in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Sacred Heart finished fifth in the MAAC standings and earned a postseason berth in its first season in the new home.
Jessen has also served as the director of the girls and boys programs in addition to holding the position of head coach with NOVA Volleyball in Trumbull, Conn. since 2022. In his role, Jessen directs all aspects of the girls program 16U-18U, coaching at high-level tournaments and practices. He also worked with athletes aged 10 to 18 with private lessons and advanced skill clinics and developed coaching curriculums and mentored prospective collegiate athletes.
Jessen has held head coaching positions with boys varsity at Fairfield Ludlowe High School and boys volleyball with Mizuno East Volleyball Club. Previously, he worked as the head club volleyball coach with Quinnipiac University from 2021 to 2023 and held an assistant coaching position at Fairfield Public Schools from 2021 to 2023.
Jessen graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2023.
|
Overall |
Conf. |
|
| Year |
W |
L |
W |
L |
Postseason |
| 2025 (Women's) |
20 |
8 |
11 |
0 |
Skyline Conference Championship First Place; NCAA First Round |
| 2026 (Men's) |
11 |
14 |
9 |
5 |
Skyline Conference Championship Finals |
