Jeff Rotondo was named the ninth head coach in the history of Rider University volleyball in April of 2019. In just his second season at the helm, the Broncs won the 2020-21 MAAC Championship, giving Rider its first-ever title in 24 years in the league.
"I am honored to be named the new head coach at Rider University and to continue the successful trend that has been established," Rotondo said. "I am grateful to Don Harnum, Karin Torchia and the entire search committee for their faith in me to lead the Rider volleyball program and to position ourselves as a forerunner in the MAAC."
Rider reached the MAAC Semifinals for the fifth-consecutive season in 2024, topping Merrimack in the MAAC Quarterfinals. Kiannisha Santiago earned her second All-MAAC honor, being named to the All-MAAC First-Team before earning MAAC All-Tournament Team honors in the postseason. Molly Rohde and Paige Giehtbrock both earned Second-Team All-MAAC honors.
The Broncs once again reached the MAAC Tournament in 2023, defeating Niagara in the first round of the Tournament to advance to the MAAC semifinals for the fourth-straight season. Kiannisha Santiago was awarded Second-Team All-MAAC honors with Molly Rohde and Paige Giehtbrock earning MAAC All-Rookie Team honors.
In 2022, the Broncs won their first two matches in the MAAC Tournament before falling in the semifinals to eventual MAAC Champions Quinnipiac in the semifinals. Morgan Romano became the first Bronc to earn All-MAAC honors for the fourth time in her career.
The Broncs returned to the MAAC Championship Match in 2021 after winning a Rider-record 14 league matches and earning the two-seed in the MAAC Tournament, the highest-ever seed for the program. Morgan Romano finished the season ninth in the country in points, 11th in the nation in kills, and 22nd in the country in aces. Anilee Sher ranked 23rd in the country in assists, breaking the Rider program record for assists in a match, season, and career. Both Sher and Romano earned All-MAAC honors.
In his first season at Rider in 2019, Rotondo led the Broncs to a 12-6 league mark and the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament. Morgan Romano earned MAAC and ECAC Rookie of the Year after being named MAAC Rookie of the Week an unprecedented 12 times. When her season ended, Romano ranked sixth in the nation in total kills and seventh in all of Division I in points. Her 534 kills and 4.64 kills per set were the second-most in a single-season in program history. She led the MAAC in kills, kills per set, total points and points per set. In addition, sophomore setter Anilee Sher joined Romano on the All-MAAC First Team, while freshman Morgan Koch took Second Team accolades. Both Romano and Koch were also tabbed to the All-Rookie Team.
Rotondo came to Lawrenceville after spending the prior five seasons as the head women's volleyball coach at Holy Family University. In his last season at the helm of the Tigers he led the team to its most successful campaign in program history. In 2018, Rotondo guided Holy Family to its first-ever CACC Championship as the team advanced all the way to the Division II East Region Championship.
Holy Family went 31-6 in 2018 as Rotondo was recognized as the CACC Coach of the Year. Last autumn, the team had players honored as a 2018 AVCA All-American, the 2018 AVCA East Region Player of the Year, 2018 CCA East Region Player of the Year, 2018 CACC Player of the Year, 2018 CACC Rookie of the Year and the 2018 CACC Setter of the Year. The banner campaign saw the team earn its most wins in program history, highlighted by reeling off 23 straight wins during a two-month stretch from mid-September to the NCAA Tournament in November.
"Jeff Rotondo emerged as the successful candidate due to his track record of success as a head coach, his passion for the sport of volleyball, his strong recruiting ties and his ability to provide our student-athletes with a positive, competitive and well-rounded experience," Harnum said.
Not only have Rotondo's teams impressed on the court, they have excelled in the classroom as well. His teams in 2016 and 2017 were recognized as Top-25 programs in GPA by the AVCA. His 2016 squad had a 3.66 cumulative GPA and the team registered a GPA of 3.69 in 2017.
In his five years as the head coach at Holy Family, his teams went 90-71 (.559). The Tigers won over 20 games in each of his last two seasons in Philadelphia and posted a 52-16 mark.
Prior taking the reins at HFU, he served as an assistant coach with the team during the 2011 and 2012 seasons before joining the staff at the University of Central Florida in 2013. In his two years with the Tigers, Rotondo helped guide the program to a school record for wins in 2011 (25-11, 18-1 CACC) and the regular season title. He also created team statistical analyses, provided video breakdown of opponent's tendencies and worked specifically with the middle hitters on improving technique, footwork and explosiveness.
"I was overwhelmed with the support shown throughout the athletics department, as well as the closeness from everyone I met at Rider University," Rotondo added. "The family atmosphere of this University appealed to me. During my interview process, I felt like a part of the department already. I am looking forward to getting started and working with the players to make Rider volleyball a model program on campus and in the MAAC."
Prior to his first stint with Holy Family, Rotondo was the head volleyball coach at Lansdale Catholic High School (2008-2011) where he guided the team to a second place finish in the Philadelphia Catholic League (PCL) AA Division in 2009 and 2010.
Rotondo also coached at Bensalem High School from 1996-2000. He took over a program that won three games in 1995, and turned the team into the 11th ranked team in the state of Pennsylvania in 2000. He was named the Bucks County Courier Times Coach of the Year in 1998 and 2000.
Prior to his time at Bensalem, Rotondo was a player/coach for Bucks County Community College from 1992-1993. During those two years the team won the EPCC Championship.
Rotondo is also a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and a USA Volleyball Coaching Accreditation Program III Certified Coach, one of approximately 50 across the country. In addition, he is also a USA Volleyball High Performance Coach for A2 Youth Program. Rotondo is a Gold Medal Squared (GMS) Level II Coach.
| Year |
Overall |
Conf. Record |
Postseason |
Notes |
| 2019 |
15-16 |
12-6 |
MAAC Tournament |
|
| 2020-21 |
7-5 |
4-4 |
MAAC Tournament; MAAC Champions;
NCAA Tournament |
MAAC COY |
| 2021 |
19-12 |
14-4 |
MAAC Tournament |
|
| 2022 |
11-20 |
7-11 |
MAAC Tournament |
|
| 2023 |
12-17 |
10-8 |
MAAC Tournament |
|
| 2024 |
16-17 |
14-4 |
MAAC Tournament |
|
| Total |
80-87 |
61-37 |
6 MAAC Tournaments; 1 MAAC Championship;
1 NCAA Tournament |
|
