CLARION NAMES JENNIFER HARRISON HEAD VOLLEYBALL COACH

            Jennifer Harrison, 30, a native of Belleville, Ontario, and an accomplished volleyball player and coach, was named today as Clarion University’s Head Volleyball Coach, it was announced by Athletic Director Dave Katis.

            Harrison replaces interim coach Jodi Burns who coached the Golden Eagles during the Fall campaign. Burns replaced Tracy Fluharty who resigned in August, 2006.

            “We are excited to announce that Jennifer Harrison is our new volleyball coach,” said Katis. “We were very impressed with her volleyball background and her knowledge of the sport, her positive and vibrant personality and her commitment to excellence in the classroom and on the court. We believe she will do a great job with our volleyball program in the years to come.”

            Harrison comes to Clarion from UMBC (University of Maryland – Baltimore County) where she was assistant coach the past two seasons. UMBC was third in the America East Conference in 2006, qualified for the conference tournament for the first time in school history and advanced to the finals before losing.

            Prior to her coaching stint at UMBC, Harrison (formerly Jennifer Mills) had four amazing years as head girls coach at Glenelg High School in Maryland. She propelled the program to elite status with a career mark of 64-13, making the State Finals three consecutive years, while winning the Maryland Title in 2002. Her teams were three time Regional Champions and she earned Howard County “Coach of the Year” in 2001 and 2003.

            While at Glenelg High she also was associate head coach for the Under-18 National Travel team “Timeout Volleyball Club”. Those teams placed third in 2004 and fifth in 2003 in the USA Volleyball (USAV) National Championships.

            “I’m really excited to be the head coach at Clarion,” said Harrison. “I love the small school atmosphere, I’ve been impressed with the faculty and staff that I have already met and can sense a warm, family atmosphere on campus and in the community. I am definitely a fundamentals type coach, so our teams will work very hard to be the most technically sound volleyball players possible. Our goals will be to try and consistently be challenging at the top of the PSAC, a great volleyball conference, as well as advancing in the NCAA playoffs.”

            Harrison (maiden name - Jennifer Mills) attended Centennial Secondary School in Ontario from 1991-94 and was an outstanding volleyball player. She was team MVP and Captain in 1994, as well as the High School “Athlete of the Year” and Belleville City “High School Athlete of the Year”. She moved on to Center Hastings Secondary School and graduated in 1995.

            Accepting a scholarship at Barton College in Wilson, N.C., she had a strong collegiate career from 1995-98. She was a three-time, first team All-Conference selection in the Carolinas/Virginias Athletic League. She was team co-captain in 1997 and 1998 and earned MVP honors in 1998. A 1999 graduate of Barton, she was named in 2006 to the All-Time Carolinas/Virginia Collegiate Volleyball Team.

            She also went on to play for the USAV Women’s Club Team from 1999-2004 and the D.C. Professional Women’s Volleyball Tour from 2002-2004. She has worked a number of impressive camps including at Pepperdine University and the University of Maryland.

            “We expect to recruit quality student-athletes to Clarion University who are focused on their educational mission, while also working hard to be the best volleyball player they can become,” said Harrison. “We are looking forward to Spring volleyball and the 2007 season to come.”

            Jennifer is married to Eric Harrison, a native of Butler, Pa., and the couple welcomed a son Noah on December 31, 2006. She is the daughter of Dave and Judy Mills of Brooklin, Ontario.

            CLARION NOTES: Harrison also coached at San Benito High School in Holllister, Ca. in 2004-05 … Her team was 28-10 in 2004, placed 2^nd in the Tri-County Athletic League, 2^nd in Central Coast  Section and reached the first round of the Northern California state Volleyball Championships. The Clarion Volleyball team was 20-12 in 2006 and 3-7 in the PSAC-West. The Golden Eagles posted their sixth straight season with 20 or more wins and also qualified for the NCAA D-II Playoffs for the fourth time in the past five seasons … Burns came on to be Clarion’s Interim Coach after Tracy Fluharty resigned in August… Burns, who resides in Shippenville, was Clarion’s head coach from 1995-98 … She also coached softball at Clarion from 1993-95... Burns was a 1991 Clarion graduate and played volleyball at Clarion from 1987-90.