The College of Staten Island men’s and women’s volleyball programs will have a new look in 2016-17, as the College has announced the hiring of Jason Madsen as its new Head Coach.  Madsen will take over in an elevated capacity, accepting a full-time position within CSI Athletics, doubling as a Facilities Supervisor at the Sports & Recreation Center.  He replaces Juan Lopez, who coached the squad for the past two seasons. 
 
Madsen is coming to the College by way of Rutgers University – Newark where he was an assistant for the men’s program since 2012 while serving as head coach of the women’s unit from 2012-15.  He is the first full-time hire at CSI in this capacity in the program’s history.
 
“We are thrilled to have Jason onboard as a member of the CSI Athletics coaching staff,” said Athletics Director Charles Gomes. “We believe his experience as a coach and a recruiter made him the ideal candidate to assume this new position. We hope his addition will be a catalyst to both our volleyball programs in raising our competitive level in the CUNYAC and the region.”  
            
With the women’s season just a few weeks away, Madsen is eagerly anticipating a fresh start, having recently wrapped up a summer circuit working volleyball youth camps in his native New Jersey area.  He recognizes the CSI position and the upcoming season as one with enormous potential.
 
“I look at it as a brand new start for me and a chance to create a new culture and volleyball attitude at CSI,” Madsen said.  “After speaking to several members of the women’s team I know they are coming in with a great attitude and are ready to compete.  I am looking forward to getting on the court with them and beginning our season.”
 
CSI introduced men’s volleyball as a varsity sport in 2014-15, and Madsen is also looking forward to building that program from the ground-up.  “It’s a great opportunity to essentially start fresh with a clean slate.  There is a strong presence of high school volleyball in the areas surrounding CSI which I hope to tap into in order to build a team and compete in the CUNY Conference.  Once we get in the gym and start to put things in motion I am confident we will see a positive change in both programs.”
 
Madsen has experience working with a developing program when he took over the women’s unit for Rutgers’ Division III Newark campus.  There, he took over an 8-19 unit in 2011 and went 15-13 the following season.  In 2014, the Scarlet Raiders advanced to the ECAC Metro Semifinals, earning its first ECAC Tournament win in 13 seasons. 
 
Alongside his duties with the women’s unit Madsen was an assistant and top recruiter for the RU-Newark men’s unit, one that ranked No. 6 nationally by the American Volleyball Coaches Association and advanced to the NCAA Division III National Championship Quarterfinals in 2015 & 2016.  Madsen hopes to use some of the tools inherited in Newark on the College of Staten Island’s developing program.
 
“Right from the start I hope to instill a never-say-die attitude in both the men’s and women’s team. I want them to fight for every point and work as hard as we can in practice so that we can compete and win matches,” he stated.  “I am looking to build a volleyball culture in both programs that will not only support each other, but each and every athletic team at CSI.”
 
In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Madsen has also spent the last three years coaching a girls’ club team with the Warren Sixpack Volleyball Club of NJ.  His experience as a recruiter and on the club circuit has helped his develop many contacts in the men’s and women’s game throughout the tri-state area, and the recruiting has helped him attract players who lend themselves to the type of volleyball he expects his teams to play.
 
“I am hoping that fans will come out and see a hard working defensive team that gives it their all each and every point.” The coach noted.  “You will see players communicating and working together to come to our common goal of winning.  I want our teams to go out and earn their victories by practicing hard and performing in matches.  We will be a disciplined team that will work to not make errors and not beat ourselves.  Overall I think fans will come out and see a game that is exciting and fast paced at times and also very technical.”
 
The CSI women’s volleyball team will begin its season on Thursday, September 8, against Purchase College.  In the meantime, Madsen will begin as a Facilities Supervisor at the CSI Sports & Recreation Center on August 8.