Jenny McDowell, who has been the Emory University volleyball head coach since 1996, has announced that she will be stepping down from her position following 27 years with the program.
McDowell became the third head coach in team history when she took over head coaching duties and elevated Emory into national prominence, setting the standard in collegiate volleyball.
Across her legendary tenure spanning nearly three decades, McDowell and her teams never missed a postseason, earning a berth to 26 consecutive NCAA tournaments – the second-longest active streak in Division III. She guided the Eagles to 21 Sweet 16s, 11 national quarterfinals, seven national semifinals, five trips to the national championship match and won two national championships in 2008 and 2018.
She mentored her players to 52 AVCA All-America First-, Second-, or Third Team honors, two National Player of the Year winners, and saw her players combine for 85 All-Region selections. McDowell has been honored as the AVCA Region Coach of the Year eight times and was selected as the National Coach of the Year by the organization twice in 2008 and 2019.
In her 26 seasons, McDowell led Emory to 10 University Athletic Association championships, with the most recent championship coming earlier this month, and has seen both her and her staff tabbed as the Association's Coaching Staff of the Year on six different occasions. Eight players have been selected as the UAA Player of the Year under her stewardship while her student-athletes collected 138 All-UAA honors.
She finishes her Emory career with 826 victories, fifth all-time in Division III history, and is one of seven Division III coaches to reach 800 career wins. Her winning percentage of .819 (826-182 overall record) stands fourth all-time in DIII history.
McDowell's legacy extended beyond in-season competition as she established one of the country's premier summer camps for volleyball, with over 20,000 girls having participated in camps held at Emory since 1996.
McDowell came to Emory following a five-year stint as the assistant coach with her alma mater, the University of Georgia, helping the Bulldogs to a 128-41 record and five appearances in the NCAA Division I tournament.
She began coaching following a stellar undergraduate career with UGA where she was a three-time team captain, three-time all-region setter, and in 1985 was selected to play in the United States Olympic Sports festival. McDowell became the first and only UGA volleyball player to have their number retired and in February of 2017, she was awarded UGA's prestigious Bill Hartman Award which recognizes former Georgia student-athletes who have demonstrated excellence in their profession and/or in service to others by 20 or more years of superior performance after graduation.
STATEMENTS AND REMARKS
Statement from Jenny McDowell
It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as the Head Volleyball Coach at Emory for the last 27 years. When I came to Emory, I had no idea that I would spend my entire coaching career here. This has been a dream come true!
I would like to thank Chuck Gordon, Emory's Athletic Director in 1996, for taking a chance on me. His leadership and mentorship provided me the foundation I needed early in my head coaching career.
I would also like to thank all the assistants that have served on our staff. They made me a better coach, leader, and person. Their unconditional love and support of our players helped them grow in every area of their lives. They are the true champions behind our success!
To all my current and former players, your commitment, passion and love for the program and each other was what I dreamed about when I came to Emory. The banners show our on-court successes, but the way you live your lives is the true definition of success. You are, and will continue, to impact the world in so many positive ways. There aren't words to explain how grateful I am for every one of you. Thank you!
Thank you, Emory, for allowing me to serve as the Head Volleyball Coach for the past 27 years. I will be forever grateful. Go Eagles!
Emory University Assistant Vice President of Campus Life/Clyde Partin Sr., Director of Athletics Keiko Price
Jenny McDowell is Emory volleyball. She's left Emory with her legacy—her mark—that will be remembered by all for years to come. From day one I've been impressed by the positive culture and family environment she's ingrained in her team, a testament of a great coach. I will miss her passion, leadership, and expectation for greatness.
Emory University Volleyball Assistant Coach Jona Braden
Jenny's impact in the world of volleyball will go down as one of the pillars of our sport. Raising the bar, challenging others to reach higher and dig deep; to inspire and challenge all to give it their very best no matter what; asking more of herself each and every season; gaining insight into how to best those around her; offering a nudge, a listening ear, a place of refuge and an example for generations to come what it means to live out and staying true to your "why" by a legacy of Emory Volleyball women reflecting in their own special, unique way what it means stand firmly, humbly and steadfast in love. Jenny's invitation to join the Emory Volleyball journey has been an immeasurable gift. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside my dear friend in this collegiate athletic experience; sharing a life-long friendship intertwined by our faith, our love for sport and passion for working with young women is a precious treasure. It has been an honor and a privilege.
Former Emory University Volleyball Student-Athlete Sarah Maher, 2013-16
As former Emory volleyball players, we knew that after 25+ years and 800+ wins, it was inevitable that this day would come, but now that it is here, it is incredibly hard to process. We put on Emory jerseys and played for Jenny but Emory Volleyball is Jenny McDowell and vice versa. She was there before we arrived and it seemed like she would always be there after we left.
After many years of coaching accolades and awards, what is left to say about Jenny? As a coach, she knows how to find ways to win and to motivate her players to do their best. Her record speaks for itself on that. But it is how she did it—with grace under constant pressure, with controlled passion and optimism, and with an outward demeanor which was always remarkably calm even when you could see from the fire in her eyes that she was anything but calm inside.
But beyond her coaching style and success, it is as a person where Jenny stands out above the wins. Jenny just cares. We didn't know it when we were first being recruited by her but Jenny didn't recruit just good volleyball players; she recruited young women of emerging high character who could also play volleyball and helped them develop into thinking, caring, responsible women. Jenny's high moral character, her accountability, and her high personal and athletic standards made her a role model for us. If you ask Jenny what she's most proud of with her teams, she will not talk as much about their playing skills as about who they have become in life, about former players who are doctors, attorneys, accountants, teachers, and business executives.
To be good at anything for decades is a true accomplishment, and Jenny's accomplishments with the Emory Volleyball program should be celebrated not only to the fullest extent now, but looking forward to see how much impact she had on a generation of women.
Emory University Men's Basketball Head Coach Jason Zimmerman
For 27 years Jenny McDowell has modeled how a championship program is built, cultivated, and maintained. She has been the visionary and leader to one of the most successful volleyball programs in the country and as impressive as the national championships, UAA championships and all the wins, is the impact she has had on so many lives, student athletes, coaches, and administrators throughout her career. Jenny's passion for Emory University, Emory volleyball and her student athletes has been and is an inspiration to all of us.
Thank you Coach McDowell for setting a standard that will continue to live on.
Sharon Dingman, former University of Chicago Volleyball Head Coach and current Head Coach of Colorado College
I don't even know how to start reflecting on Jenny's contributions to our sport. She has influenced DIII volleyball in immeasurable ways. She is deeply admired for her success, her ability to see far beyond Emory to what is best for DIII volleyball, her willingness to mentor young coaches, and her professionalism. The accolades and the records are there for everyone to see, however, it's the passion she puts into every day, the love she has for Emory, and the drive she has to see every player achieve their goals and to have a great experience is what makes Jenny uniquely special. Jenny is leaving a legacy in our sport similar to Teri Clemens and Larry Bock. She has had a legendary career and I will miss her beyond my capability to put into words.
Former Washington University in St. Louis Head Coach and Seven-Time National Champion Teri Clemens
Jenny has been one of the NCAA leading coaches for numerous years now. I have always been drawn to competition and Jenny's arrival at Emory marked a significant and immediate growth in the UAA and very soon, on the national level. She and I were immediate friends and, given my age and experience, I served as an early mentor. It did not take her long to develop Emory into a powerhouse in NCAA Division III. She had the whole package: an endearing love and respect for her student-athletes, a competitive spirit that was undying and forever a place in her heart for Emory and our great sport of volleyball.
It's fair to say that I have NEVER met a coach who would do more for her team than Coach McDowell. She cared about every class, every sibling they had, every issue they experienced. She cared that she had every detail right prior to pre-season…EVERY detail all season! I've been out of the sport for many years now and Jenny remains my most cherished friend. We can still talk a mean game of volleyball but we can talk about anything and everything now as best friends do. In my most difficult times Jenny has been there for me. And I will always be there for Jenny.