University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Peterson Exemplifies “Forever a Bulldog” in Journey from Student-Athlete to Coach
09.07.2022 | Women's Volleyball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – UNC Asheville has been a place for dreams to come true for former North Henderson volleyball coach Jen Peterson. Now she's helping others make their dreams come true at her alma mater.
Peterson is in her sixth season as an assistant coach for the Bulldog volleyball program. She enjoyed a stellar career for UNC Asheville as an outside hitter from 1996-99. Jen didn't take the normal route to becoming a Division I volleyball coach but it was a road she was glad to take.
A normal route would have been to be a graduate assistant coach right after graduation and working from there to get a full-time job.
"I always dreamed about becoming a volleyball coach in college someday but I decided I didn't want to do it right after I graduated." said Peterson.
She earned a master's degree in counseling from Western Carolina and married her husband Brent. Peterson also became a mom of two children. But the love of volleyball was still there.
Peterson started her coaching career on the high school level, serving as head coach at North Buncombe, Asheville School and at North Henderson. She has also been very active on the club level as she has been the Executive Director of the Biltmore Volleyball Academy.
Jen finally began her collegiate coaching career at Mars Hill in 2016. She worked there for a year when an opening suddenly came up at UNC Asheville.
"I hoped that someday an opportunity would open up at UNC Asheville and was delighted when one did," said Peterson.
It was an easy decision to come back to her alma mater. She had worked with head Bulldog coach Frederico Santos for years at Biltmore Volleyball Academy.
"I had always enjoyed working with Frederico at Biltmore Volleyball Academy and was very excited to work with him at UNC Asheville," said Peterson. "I had dreamed about working with Division I volleyball players on the collegiate level and this was such a great opportunity."
The Bulldog program has certainly benefited from Peterson's work. In 2018, Bulldog fans were electrified by a 10-match winning streak late in the season that put Asheville into the semifinals of the Big South Tournament.
"I just love the competition on the Division I level. You have to come ready to play not just every match but every practice," she said.
But Peterson enjoys something much more than the competition.
"I really enjoy the relationships that I've developed with the players. I was once one of them not too long ago. It's great to get to know them better and help them try to make their dreams come true," said Peterson. "It's a thrill to have them call from time-to-time or drop by the house even after they're finished playing. Winning is wonderful but it is the relationships that I've really enjoyed making that's made this job so rewarding."
Coaching college volleyball is always challenging but 2020 brought its own challenges with Covid. The collegiate season is usually played in the fall. Not that year. The Bulldogs practiced in the fall but played matches in the spring.
"Covid provided challenges and uncertainty but we handled it very well at UNC Asheville thanks to the great leadership of our athletic department," said Peterson. "I think that the pandemic has shown us that we need to appreciate the opportunities we have to compete," she added.
It's hard to believe but over 25 years ago, Peterson was dreaming about playing collegiate volleyball on the Division I level. She had enjoyed a standout high school career in Chapel Hill.
"I was determined to play Division I volleyball despite being a little short (5'-7")," said Peterson. "When I was recruited by Julie Torbett (UNC Asheville's head coach at the time), I could tell she was tough and demanding and that's what I wanted."
"I was lucky enough to have her recruit me to come to Asheville and be a part of a Division I program," she said. "And I was lucky enough to have a great experience both on and off the court. I got a great education from a fantastic school, made lifelong friends and played Division I volleyball for four years. I ended up liking this area so much that I stayed and have been here ever since."