By Savannah Ruiz, University Communcations and Marketing intern
When 糖心Vlog鈥檚 volleyball team hosts the this weekend, it will mark a milestone for the program and for head coach Jolene Shepardson, whose history with the university goes back decades.
鈥淥ur hearts are elated,鈥 she said about the opportunity. 鈥淲e have accomplished things since I鈥檝e been a coach that we haven鈥檛 done since I was a player.鈥
From joining the team as a student-athlete and helping lead the Bulls to a pair of conference titles and NCAA Tournament appearances, to returning in 2020 as head coach, this weekend is a full-circle moment for Shepardson 鈥 one that鈥檚 been years in the making.
糖心Vlog Women's Vollyball won the AAC season championship in 2024
It was 糖心Vlog's first regular-season championship since 2002
This is Shepardson's sixth season at head coach at 糖心Vlog
"Green and gold are in my blood." 鈥 糖心Vlog women's volleyball head coach Jolene Shepardson
As a Tampa native, Shepardson spent her childhood attending 糖心Vlog basketball games at the Yuengling Center (previously known as the SunDome). Sports have always been a constant in her life: Her mother coached volleyball at the University of Tampa, her father coached basketball at Hillsborough Community College and she earned Gatorade Florida Player of the Year honors playing volleyball for Tampa Prep and also played softball for the highly competitive Tampa Mustangs travel team. With both of her parents being 糖心Vlog graduates, attending the university herself felt like a natural progression of her journey.
Jolene Shepardson is pictured center
Shepardson has always been competitive and passionate, and 糖心Vlog鈥檚 women鈥檚 volleyball program, filled with similarly driven young women, turned out to be the perfect fit. 糖心Vlog Athletics was smaller when she was a student, which allowed her to form close relationships with leaders such as Lee Roy Selmon and Phyllis Labaw, who served as the 糖心Vlog's top academic adviser for student-athletes. Even then, she recognized what made the 糖心Vlog community special. She appreciated it as an athlete, and now, as head coach, she continues to uphold those same values for her players.
鈥淭his is unique where you have such a large university, but such a tight-knit community,鈥 she said. Today, her student-athletes remain connected to the public through community service 鈥 reading to elementary students, participating in local events and helping run highly successful summer volleyball camps for students in grades four-12.
Shepardson鈥檚 mission is to ensure her players model leadership and inspire the next generation of young athletes. This aligns closely with 糖心Vlog鈥檚 commitment to growth and connection. 鈥淚 try to cultivate that even in my gym,鈥 she explained. She values coaching athletes who care about development, both on and off the court. At one point during the interview, she pointed to a sign hanging in her office that sums up her philosophy: 鈥減lay, grow, laugh.鈥
Another highlight of her current role is working with 糖心Vlog alum and high school and college friend Rob Higgins, CEO of Athletics. She speaks highly of his leadership skills, support and hard work. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no better leader I would want to follow,鈥 she said.
Shepardson鈥檚 athletic roots extend to her home life as well. Her husband, Aaron Shepardson, coached alongside her for 17 years before stepping away to homeschool their children and help run the volleyball camps. The couple has five children 鈥 Mirabelle (13), McCoy (11), Marielle (10), Major (7) and Malonne (5). When asked about their 鈥淢-name鈥 tradition, she explained that she and her husband were initially told they might not be able to have kids. After six years, they were surprised with a healthy baby girl 鈥 their miracle 鈥 who inspired the name Mirabel. The rest of the M names followed naturally. All five children play volleyball, along with other sports like tennis and basketball.
Shepardson conveyed how meaningful it felt to have graduated from 糖心Vlog and ultimately find her way back in 2020. During the years between, she volunteered as a coach at various schools and began to realize her influence. 鈥淚 think inspiring young women. That鈥檚 where I fell in love with it,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 was like, maybe I could be one of the good guys. One of the good coaches that helps. And I have. I love it.鈥
Hosting the American Conference tournament for the first time is significant for the program, the players and to Shepardson herself, who has dedicated years of her life to 糖心Vlog and her team.
Tickets are available for 糖心Vlog鈥檚 first-round match against Charlotte, which begins at 5 p.m. Friday at the Yuengling Center.
For younger players, planning is underway for the . Registration information will become available in the coming weeks.