University of North Dakota Athletics

Jeremiah Tiffin heads into his third season in charge of the University of North Dakota volleyball team in 2021, boasting 11 returning letterwinners and seven newcomers to the Fighting Hawks roster of 18.
 
In his previous two seasons in charge, the Fighting Hawks have laid the foundation for growth in the program, distinguishing themselves as one of the top-academic teams in The Summit League with AVCA/USMC Team Academic Awards each year. Additionally, UND has continued to set program records under Tiffin with five student-athletes being named to The Summit League’s Commissioner’s List and 14 earning Summit League Academic Honor Roll accolades.
 
On the court, individuals have reached new heights as well as Darian Chwialkowski led The Summit League in digs per set with an impressive 5.48 digs per set and Lexi Ahrens became the first Fighting Hawk in three seasons to earn Summit League Player of the Week. Alexa Albinson was also named to The Summit League’s All-Freshmen Team.
 
In his first season with the Fighting Hawks, the program finished its non-conference season 8-6 as it played its first 12 games on the road in Louisiana, Mississippi, Rhode Island and North Carolina. North Dakota finally played its first game at The Betty Engelstad Sioux Center on Sept. 19 at the UND Classic, coming back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Eastern Washington in five sets.
 
North Dakota closed Tiffin’s first season 12-18 overall and 4-12 in Summit League play. However, the Fighting Hawks battled tough in conference matches as 32 of its 61 sets played were decided by three-or-fewer points. North Dakota also played its best volleyball in five set matches as it finished with a perfect 5-0 record when going the distance.
 
Ashley Brueggeman, who moved into the University of North Dakota’s career top-10 in kills and points, earned honorable mention on the All-Summit League team as she hit .257 during the season. It was the third-best average in The Summit League amongst student-athletes with 900-or-more attempts. She became the 18th player in UND history to reach 1,000 career kills versus Eastern Washington on Sept. 19, 2019.
 
University of North Dakota Athletics Director Bill Chaves announced Tiffin as the Head Coach of the Fighting Hawks volleyball program on May 29, 2019.
 
Tiffin - the 13th Head Coach in the program’s history - came to UND in December 2018 as Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, helping recruit the Fighting Hawks six signees in the Class of 2019. 
 
He came to North Dakota after spending four seasons as the Head Coach at Our Lady of the Lake University (2015-18), claiming Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) titles in each of his four seasons. The Saints won at least 20 matches three times and advanced to the NAIA Championship in a trio of campaigns. Tiffin also mentored four NAIA All-Americans, 15 AVCA All-Region selections, 34 all-conference athletes and the program’s first player to reach 1,000 kills.
 
The 2017 OLLU team was the first in the Saints history to advance to Pool Play at the NAIA National Championship. Tiffin’s program also succeeded in the classroom, earning the NAIA Scholar Team Award three times.
 
Before his time at OLLU, Tiffin served as the Recruiting Coordinator at Baylor in 2014 where he helped his alma mater ink a pair of top-75 players that offseason. He was promoted to Assistant Coach following the 2013 campaign, previously serving as the Bears Director of Volleyball Operations.
 
He entered the head coaching ranks at Hill College (2010-13). Tiffin led the program to a 51-55 overall record, making the playoffs all three seasons and finishing no worse than third in the conference standings each year. He helped seven Rebels earn first team all-conference and had three players named Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Tiffin entered the college coaching realm at Arkansas State as a volunteer assistant coach in 2006, helping guide ASU to a 21-14 record and a second-place finish in the Sun Belt Conference.
 
The Winnipeg, Manitoba native cut his coaching teeth in the club ranks and spent 14 seasons coaching various age groups, beginning in 2004 as the Head Coach of the Baylor Men’s and Women’s Club Volleyball teams. In 2013 Tiffin was named the National Collegiate Volleyball Federation (NCVF) National Coach of the Year.
 
Tiffin earned his bachelors’ and masters’ degrees from Baylor University. Tiffin and his wife, Rachel, have two sons, Isaac and Daniel.