UCLA Beach Volleyball Promotes Jenny Johnson Jordan to Head Coach
A few weeks after losing their longtime head coach, the Bruins have committed to a familiar full-time replacement.
UCLA beach volleyball announced Jenny Johnson Jordan would be taking over as the program's second-ever head coach on Monday. Johnson Jordan, who was previously a top assistant on the Bruins' staff, was given the interim tag when longtime head coach Stein Metzger left to snag the top job at Texas on May 16.
That interim label is gone, though, and Johnson Jordan will be tasked with shepherding UCLA into the future.
"These past 10 years have been nothing short of amazing in helping to build this program with ," Johnson Jordan said in a statement. "I have had the privilege to be a part of the rise and history making moments with this team and now I am deeply humbled and honored to have this opportunity to continue leading it forward. My passion for coaching has always centered around providing holistic care and mentorship for the young women under my care. We have some tremendous young women in our program and my commitment in helping them become the best versions of themselves, both on and off the sand court, remains stronger than ever."
Johnson Jordan played for UCLA women's volleyball three decades ago, winning a national championship in 1991 and finishing runner-up in 1992 and 1994. Upon graduation, Johnson Jordan made the switch to the beach, securing 10 professional titles before representing Team USA at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics.
In 2014, Johnson Jordan returned to Westwood as an assistant coach for the beach volleyball squad. Johnson Jordan was part of the staff that guided the Bruins to back-to-back national titles in 2018 and 2019, and she capped off that run by winning AVCA National Assistant Beach Coach of the Year in 2019.
Johnson Jordan was promoted to associate head coach in 2020, and UCLA has won two of three Pac-12 titles since then.
UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond has now made seven head coaching hires since arriving in Westwood, all of which have happened in the past 18 months. Johnson Jordan joins former interim rowing coach Previn Chandraratna and women's golf assistant coach Alicia Um Holmes as the only internal hires in that group.
"After going through the interview process and speaking to our student-athletes, it became clear that Jenny possesses all of the qualities needed to be the next head coach for our outstanding beach volleyball program," Jarmond said in a statement. "She has earned this opportunity to lead as she embodies the qualities of being a great teacher and communicator. She is passionate about the game and cares deeply about the student-athlete experience. I have no doubt she will be successful in leading our elite beach volleyball program."
Johnson Jordan was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame as a student-athlete in 2018.
Follow Connon on Twitter at @SamConnon
Follow All Bruins on Twitter at @FN_AllBruins
Like All Bruins on Facebook at @FN.AllBruins
Subscribe to All Bruins on YouTube
Read more UCLA stories: UCLA Bruins on Sports Illustrated
Read more UCLA Olympic sports stories: UCLA Olympic Sports on Sports Illustrated
PHOTO COURTESY OF UCLA ATHLETICS