1/8/2026
Former three-time A-10 Player of the Year becomes program’s first female head coach
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (July 3, 2025) – Jamie Peterson’s midseason audition turned into a permanent position as Wittenberg University officially named her head coach of the men’s volleyball program, Vice President and Director of Athletics Brian Agler announced Thursday.
Peterson took over the Tigers in March after head coach Nathan Matthews ’19 resigned to join Alabama’s women’s volleyball staff. She immediately made her mark by leading Wittenberg to an upset victory over nationally ranked Baldwin Wallace in her debut match. The Tigers finished 6-3 under Peterson’s leadership while competing for a Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League championship.
“Jamie did an exceptional job for our men’s volleyball program when stepped in midway through the 2025 season,” Agler said. “Our team played a demanding schedule and competed to the end for a conference championship. The student-athletes have great confidence in Jamie, and I am confident we will keep improving to become one of the top teams in the country.”
The appointment makes Peterson the first female head coach in the 10-year history of Wittenberg men’s volleyball and places her among a select group of women leading men’s collegiate volleyball programs nationally.
Peterson brings impressive credentials to the role. The West Liberty, Ohio native was a three-time Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, Midwest Region Player of the Year, and NCAA Division I All-American at the University of Dayton (2016-21). She competed professionally for Athletes Unlimited in 2022 and 2023 while simultaneously serving as an assistant coach for Wittenberg’s women’s volleyball program, helping the Tigers win back-to-back North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament titles.
Under Peterson’s interim leadership, Wittenberg finished second in the MCVL regular season standings and earned a berth in the league tournament before falling to Baldwin Wallace in the semifinals. The Tigers have finished in the top spots in the league standings for three consecutive seasons.
“I am extremely grateful for the confidence from my team and Brian alike,” Peterson said. “I can’t wait to see where this program can go. We have a hungry group that is ready to put in the work to become great. All credit to the team for rolling with the punches and continuing to work through adversity. I’m excited for what is to come.”
Peterson earned bachelor’s degrees in sport management and business administration from Dayton. She resides in Springfield with her husband, Zach Sprinkle, a firefighter and emergency medical technician for the City of Springfield, and their six-year-old son.
Matthews, who had led the program since 2021, departed to pursue an assistant coaching opportunity with Alabama’s women’s volleyball program.