UCF volleyball’s Jenny Maurer completes first coaching staff
New UCF volleyball coach Jenny Maurer rounded out her first staff late last week.
Maurer, who was promoted May 18 to replace long-time coach Todd Dagenais, hired a pair of coaches with Big 12 Conference coaching and playing experience while keeping another Knights assistant onboard.
Michaela Franklin and Jason Tanaka were both named associate head coaches under Maurer while UCF announced the retention of director of operations Erin Olson.
“I am ecstatic to get going as a complete staff as we begin our training for our international trip next week,” Maurer said in a release.
Franklin comes to UCF after one season as the associate head coach at South Florida. Prior to USF, she served as the head volleyball coach at Clemson from 2017-2020.
At Clemson, Franklin guided the Tigers from a 7-25 record in her first season in 2017 to a 19-15 mark the following year as the team reached the National Invitational Volleyball Championship quarterfinals, marking the program’s first postseason appearance since 2009.
She came to Clemson after serving as the associate head coach at Iowa from 2014-16 and the head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in ’13. Franklin also served as an assistant coach at Marquette from ’09-12 and Northern Illinois from ’06-08.
As a player at Kansas State from ’02-04, Franklin helped lead the Wildcats to a Big 12 championship and three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a berth in the Sweet 16.
“Michaela and I have crossed paths for over 15 years on the recruiting trail where we served as head coaches and recruiting coordinators at various universities,” Maurer said. “She is a go-getter, a consummate learner and an overall great person who will add valuable experience to our staff as both a former player and coach at the highest level.
“From her time as a student-athlete in the Big 12 to her years as a coach in the Big Ten, ACC and Big East, Michaela knows what it means to prepare for and compete against the best in the nation.”
Tanaka joins the Knights after spending the past 21 years in Texas as the head coach volleyball at Southlake Carroll High School for one season, an assistant coach at SMU from 2015-2022 and an associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at TCU from 2002-15.
He helped SMU capture back-to-back AAC conference championships and NCAA tournament appearances in 2015 and ’16. At TCU, he helped the Horned Frogs reach their first-ever NCAA tournament in 2009.
Prior to his time at TCU, Tanaka served as an assistant coach at Pittsburgh (’00-01) and Baylor (1998-99), helping the Bears earn their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth and a school-record 26-9 record in ’99.
“Having coached at two Big 12 programs, three Power 5 schools, plus having experienced a major conference transition, Jason not only brings a wealth of knowledge about our upcoming conference opponents but also an elite level of preparation, attention to detail, recruiting connections and training skills necessary to compete for championships,” Maurer said.
With Maurer’s first staff complete, the Knights will prepare for a European tour that takes place June 7-18.
While making stops in Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, and Italy, UCF will play 6-8 matches against local club and professional teams, with the possibility of additional matches against junior and national teams, in preparation for the program’s first season in the Big 12.
Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @therealBeede.
