DU Names Tom Hogan Volleyball Head Coach| Katelin Batten Promoted to First Assistant

DENVER - Jesse Tupac has been hired as the second assistant coach for the University of Denver volleyball team, head coach Tom Hogan announced Wednesday. DU volunteer assistant Eduardo Fiallos will be the director of volleyball operations.

"I couldn't be more excited for the future of DU volleyball," Hogan said. "I want to thank Peg Bradley-Doppes, Ron Grahame and Dan Van Ackeren for their support and belief in our program, which has made it possible to hire such a knowledgeable staff and to recruit such talented players. Peg, Ron and Dan have fostered a culture of teamwork, commitment and excellence that is present in every aspect of DU athletics. We have big goals for our program and are looking forward to putting in the work and the heart to take the next step forward."

Tupac will join the Pioneers' coaching staff as the second assistant and offensive coordinator. He will also assist in evaluating and recruiting future prospects.

"Bringing Jesse on board is a huge win for our team, with his incredibly impressive, high-level experience and his knowledge of the game. But even more remarkable is his passion for coaching volleyball and his enthusiasm for the team. He brings energy and an expertise that fill every corner of the gym. We know he'll be a driving force in our program's future success."

Tupac brings experience from the college, international and club levels, most recently as the director of volleyball operations at Penn State. Penn State made a sweet sixteen appearance and finished with a 28-6 record during Tupac's season with the Nittany Lions.

Internationally, Tupac has worked with USA Volleyball in various positions. Most recently, he served as an assistant coach for the women's indoor national team at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada, where the US won gold for the first time since 1965. In 2014, Tupac worked with both the US junior and senior teams at the NORECECA World Championship Qualifiers. He served as the technical coordinator for the women's volleyball indoor youth national squad and worked for the gold medal-winning women's indoor national team.

"Jesse has a strong mind for the game, an ability to connect quickly with people and has come up with some really creative ideas while seeking new solutions for old problems," US women's national team head coach Karch Kiraly said of Tupac.

Tupac previously served as a graduate assistant at Iowa State and volunteer assistant at Loyola Marymount (Calif.). At Iowa State, the Cyclones advanced to the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament and finished ranked second in the Big 12. Tupac assisted LMU with training, video coordinating, data analysis and the compilation of scouting reports for the 2013 season.

Tupac has been honored for his work in volleyball as a recipient of the 2015 AVCA 30 Under 30 awards, which recognizes 30 up-and-coming volleyball coaches under 30 years old at all levels of the game.

At the club level, Tupac has served as a coach and administrator for the All Iowa Attack Volleyball Club and Sunshine Volleyball Club. As the head coach of the All Iowa Attack 18's Team, the squad finished in first place at both the Iowa Regionals and the Northern Lights USAV Qualifier. In 2014, he coached the 17-Red team to a 17-National gold medal. Tupac also spent seven years with the Sunshine Volleyball Club and guided the 2013 18-South Bay team to a bronze medal at the 18-Nationals. Both clubs experienced great growth during Tupac's time with them; the Sunshine Volleyball Club expanded from 15 teams to 23 teams, while the All Iowa Attack Volleyball Club grew from five to nine teams.

In college, Tupac played for coach Al Scates as a member of the UCLA men's volleyball team. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in English and later began pursuing his Masters of Education at Iowa State.

Fiallos will be the technical coordinator and head of statistical analysis for the Pioneers. He will also direct daily volleyball operations.

"We've been fortunate to have Eduardo involved with our program for more than three years, during which he's become more and more integral to our success," Hogan said. "His knowledge of the game and pride for our program are present in everything he does. To now have the opportunity to bring him on fulltime to direct our volleyball operations is the perfect fit and a huge addition to our team. We are thrilled to be able to grow our potential with the help of his dedication and talent."

Katelin Batten has stayed on the coaching staff and was promoted to the first assistant coach. In her four seasons at Denver, Batten has guided the liberos and defensive specialists to success, helping the Pioneers to an 88-41 record, including back-to-back 27-win seasons in 2014 and 2015. The Pioneers also won the Summit League Championship and earned their first two bids to the NCAA Tournament in 2014 and 2015.

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