Jackie Ahlers, a three-time AVCA All-American Honorable Mention and AVCA All-Northeast Region selection, re-joined the NJIT women’s volleyball coaching staff for her second stint as a full-time assistant coach in May of 2022.
One of the best volleyball players to come out of New York, the 6-foot-1 outside hitter from Stony Point, NY, first gained notice in high school as a key player for North Rockland High School, guiding North Rockland to a State Championship in 2000 and three straight league championships. Ahlers then starred at St. John's, where she became one of the most decorated players in Red Storm history, playing from 2002-05 and getting inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in January, 2020.
Ahlers served as an assistant coach at NJIT during the 2017 season and then moved back to the BIG EAST, serving as the top assistant coach at recruiting coordinator at Georgetown.
After helping lead the Hoyas to a 17-12 record in 2018, Ahlers was named Head Coach at Pace University in the spring of 2019 and coached the Setters for two seasons over a three-year stint as the 2020 campaign was canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
A 2006 graduate from St. John’s with a bachelor’s in Communications, Ahlers is also no stranger to the America East as she played her fifth season at Stony Brook, while working towards a master's in professional studies. Ahlers helped lead the Seawolves to a 24-win season and was named the America East Player of the Year, topping the conference and finishing 14th nationally with 5.08 kills per set.
An immediate fixture in the starting lineup for the Red Storm, Ahlers was a two-time First Team All-Big East selection during her three-year Hall of Fame career at St. John's. Ahlers' name is etched throughout the program's record books as she sits atop the single-season kills (646) list and is the all-time single-season leader in attempts (1,399). Additionally, Ahlers ranks second in career kills (1,766), third in all-time in career-attempts (3,803), and eighth in career hitting percentage (.257). Ahlers was officially inducted into the St. John's Hall of Fame in January of 2020.
Ahlers earned American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American Honorable Mention in 2003, becoming the first player in St. John’s history to receive the honor, including AVCA All-Northeast Region.
Prior to her initial arrival at NJIT in 2017, Ahlers was the head volleyball coach at The Masters School (2014 to 2017), in Dobbs Ferry, NY, for both Boys & Girls varsity and middle school teams. She also coached club for the Downstate Juniors Volleyball Club in Peekskill, New York.
Ahlers' first college coaching position was as an assistant coach for Dominican College in 2014. The Chargers reached 16 wins and advanced to the Central Athletic Collegiate Conference (CACC) quarterfinals.
