The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
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Ingram Announces Promotion of Clesen as Beach Volleyball Head Coach
8/17/2023 3:15:00β―PM | Women's Beach Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM β UAB Director of Athletics Mark Ingram has announced the promotion of Delaney Clesen as the new head coach of the Blazers' beach volleyball program.
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Clesen spent the 2023 season as UAB's assistant coach and was instrumental in helping the Blazers win a program record 18 matches.
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"Delaney earned this position by demonstrating a passion and eagerness to take the UAB beach volleyball program to new heights," Ingram said. "Delaney is a proven winner on and off the court, and her familiarity with UAB and our student-athletes, along with her positive attitude will allow for a seamless transition."
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Along with helping the Blazers win a program-best 18 matches last year, Clesen coached Conference USA Freshman of the Year Jasmine Haas and First Team All-Conference selection Arden Copping. She also helped guide Brooke Pertuit to a program-record tying 22 individual wins.
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"I knew from the first day that I stepped foot on campus, that this is a special place where everyone feels like family," Clesen said. "In such a short amount of time Birmingham has become my home and I'm so thankful for this new opportunity. I'm honored to be the new leader of UAB's Beach Volleyball program and I can't wait to get started with the team! I want to thank Director of Athletics Mark Ingram and the entire search committee for believing in me to guide such a great program."
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Prior to joining UAB in January of 2023, Clesen served as the assistant coach for beach and indoor at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla. for two years (2021-22).
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Clesen played indoor at the University of Pittsburgh from 2011-14 and was one of the best defensive players in Pitt volleyball history as she ranks third all-time in career digs with 1,607. Following Pitt, she did a graduate transfer to Florida Atlantic where she played beach for two years (2015-16) and earned Honorable Mention All-America honors on the sand in 2016.
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Following her collegiate playing career, Clesen played indoor professionally for VBC Kerzers in Switzerland from 2017-18. She then returned to America in 2018 and played professionally on the AVP beach circuit from 2019-2022.
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Along with playing professionally, Clesen has been coaching since 2017 which included stints as the program director for Chicago Sand Volleyball (2018-19), Montini Catholic freshman volleyball coach (2018-19), New Wave Club coach (2018-19), Gold Medal Squared Independent coach (2017-2020) Legacy Volleyball Club indoor coach (2020-21) and Calvary Christian indoor and beach assistant (2020-21). Additionally, she was an elementary school counselor at Sexton Elementary in St. Petersburg from 2020-2022.
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Clesen is a native of Evanston, Illinois. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2014 with a degree in Media and Professional Communication and earned a Master of Education in counseling from FAU in 2019.
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Clesen spent the 2023 season as UAB's assistant coach and was instrumental in helping the Blazers win a program record 18 matches.
Β
"Delaney earned this position by demonstrating a passion and eagerness to take the UAB beach volleyball program to new heights," Ingram said. "Delaney is a proven winner on and off the court, and her familiarity with UAB and our student-athletes, along with her positive attitude will allow for a seamless transition."
Β
Along with helping the Blazers win a program-best 18 matches last year, Clesen coached Conference USA Freshman of the Year Jasmine Haas and First Team All-Conference selection Arden Copping. She also helped guide Brooke Pertuit to a program-record tying 22 individual wins.
Β
"I knew from the first day that I stepped foot on campus, that this is a special place where everyone feels like family," Clesen said. "In such a short amount of time Birmingham has become my home and I'm so thankful for this new opportunity. I'm honored to be the new leader of UAB's Beach Volleyball program and I can't wait to get started with the team! I want to thank Director of Athletics Mark Ingram and the entire search committee for believing in me to guide such a great program."
Β
Prior to joining UAB in January of 2023, Clesen served as the assistant coach for beach and indoor at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla. for two years (2021-22).
Β
Clesen played indoor at the University of Pittsburgh from 2011-14 and was one of the best defensive players in Pitt volleyball history as she ranks third all-time in career digs with 1,607. Following Pitt, she did a graduate transfer to Florida Atlantic where she played beach for two years (2015-16) and earned Honorable Mention All-America honors on the sand in 2016.
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Following her collegiate playing career, Clesen played indoor professionally for VBC Kerzers in Switzerland from 2017-18. She then returned to America in 2018 and played professionally on the AVP beach circuit from 2019-2022.
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Along with playing professionally, Clesen has been coaching since 2017 which included stints as the program director for Chicago Sand Volleyball (2018-19), Montini Catholic freshman volleyball coach (2018-19), New Wave Club coach (2018-19), Gold Medal Squared Independent coach (2017-2020) Legacy Volleyball Club indoor coach (2020-21) and Calvary Christian indoor and beach assistant (2020-21). Additionally, she was an elementary school counselor at Sexton Elementary in St. Petersburg from 2020-2022.
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Clesen is a native of Evanston, Illinois. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2014 with a degree in Media and Professional Communication and earned a Master of Education in counseling from FAU in 2019.
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Players Mentioned
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
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