ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Lewis University men's volleyball head coach Dan Friend announced Thursday (Jan. 16) the promotion of Jacob Kerschner to Associate Head Coach.

"We are excited and proud to elevate Jacob Kerschner to Associate Head Coach. He has been invaluable to the program as a player and coach. He has improved all facets of our program and will continue to do so," Friend said. "As a former player who has been through the grind and understands how to navigate life's challenges that come outside the court, Jacob provides excellent mentorship to all of our athletes. He has also developed connections in multiple areas across campus and truly exemplifies what it means to be a Flyer! I consider the program and myself lucky to have Jacob as part of the family and look forward to the continued success with him on the sidelines."

Kerschner, who enters his fifth season with the Flyers in 2024-25, was an assistant coach for the last three seasons. He returned to his alma mater in 2021 as a graduate assistant before being promoted to assistant coach in 2022.

Kerschner led the Flyers to a MIVA Championship and NCAA Final Four Appearance in the 2021 season and has compiled an overall record of 69-43 in his four seasons as a member of the coaching staff. Under his leadership, Kershner has coached 8 All-American athletes, showcasing his dedication and commitment to the program.  

Serving as Recruiting Coordinator, Kerschner has brought in 19 Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 recruits. The prestigious Fab 50 list highlights the top 50 high school volleyball athletes coming from the United States each year. Lewis had the most Fab 50 recruits in the 2021 and 2022 recruiting classes compared to any other DI/DII program.

"I am extremely grateful and honored to be named Associate Head Coach for the Lewis men's volleyball team," Kerschner said. I would like to thank Coach Dan Friend for this opportunity and for mentoring me to be the coach that I am today. It is a privilege to work with this great team and staff. I also want to thank our administration and Assistant Vice President for Athletics, John Ashaolu, for believing in my abilities in this role. As an alumni, it means so much to me to have this opportunity, and I am excited to see what we can achieve this season and in the future."
 
A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Kerschner continues to impact the volleyball community as he is involved within the USA Volleyball coaching pipeline and serves as an NTDP coach at both the regional and national training series. As a player for the Flyers from 2016 through 2020, Kerschner appeared in 106 sets throughout 48 matches.

He was a key part of the 2019 team that won the MIVA regular season title and MIVA conference tournament and advanced to the NCAA Final Four. Kerschner was a five-time recipient of the Academic All-MIVA Award and the Brother David Delahanty Award for academic excellence. He received his bachelor's degree in mathematics with a minor in athletic coaching from Lewis in 2020.