Women's Volleyball

Dave Zelenock is in his fifth season at the helm of the Golden Eagle volleyball squad.

On the court, Zelenock has used successful recruiting efforts to help lift the Golden Eagle program toward finding success similar to what he found in his previous positions.

Following the completion of his first full recruiting class at Tech, Zelenock was proud to announce that the 2014 and 2015 Golden Eagle signing class earned High Honorable Mention for strength of the recruiting class by PrepVolleyball.com.

In the 2014 season, Zelenock led Tech to a 15-19 record, and a 9-7 record in Ohio Valley Conference play. The 9-7 was the first winning conference season 2008. The Golden Eagles also recorded their first All-OVC athlete and All-Newcomer team member under Zelenock’s tutelage. In the summer of 2015, he saw one of his players earned a place as one of 36 athletes to participate in the U.S. Collegiate National Team (CNT) program.

Zelenock has helped the program continue to excel in the classroom.  The Tennessee Tech volleyball team was named a recipient of the 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic awards. Tech was one of nine Ohio Valley Conference teams to win the award this past year.

He also saw 21 student-athletes earn a spot on the TTU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. Thirteen athletes also made the OVC Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll during his time, and two have earned a Medal of Honors for achieving a perfect 4.0 through both the fall and spring semesters.

The Golden Eagle volleyball program has the longest streak among all the teams within the TTU Athletic Department of uninterrupted semesters (30) with a team GPA exceeding 3.0, a stretch which began in fall 2000.
In 2015, Zelenock was published on the national website, AthleteAssessments.com, on his success of redirecting the TTU program.

Zelenock, 32, who helped reshape the landscape of Central Michigan volleyball in his six successful seasons on the Chippewa coaching staff, was named head volleyball coach at Tennessee Tech University in mid-January 2013.

“The position at Tennessee Tech is really a dream job,” Zelenock said at the time. “I get to be a head coach in a conference that is competitive with the resources that it takes to win. I have a great administration supporting our program, and it is giving me the opportunity to be successful in my first college head coaching job.”

A 2005 graduate of Central Michigan, Zelenock was an assistant coach at Northwood University for two years and Delaware State one season before returning to his alma mater in 2007. At Northwood, he helped the team to a 44-21 two-year record and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
After two seasons as assistant coach at CMU, Zelenock was promoted to associate head coach in 2009. With Zelenock on the recruiting trail, Central Michigan secured five-straight nationally ranked recruiting classes and six over eight seasons.

“Dave Zelenock is an up-and-coming coach who is a proven winner,” said TTU Director of Athletics Mark Wilson. “He’s an outstanding recruiter and coach, and we are excited that he has joined the Tennessee Tech coaching staff.”

“The number one thing that convinced me to come to Tennessee Tech is the people, beginning with Mark Wilson,” Zelenock said. “I want to work for someone who I want to follow, and I believe he has great vision for the department. The people are amazing, both at the university and in the community, and they make me feel comfortable. It’s a great community and I think Cookeville is a great place to raise a family.”

Zelenock’s previous responsibilities at CMU included acting as the program’s recruiting coordinator and future opponent scouting. In the gym, he was in charge of outside hitter development/training.
“The big change is that now I am the final say in recruiting, lineups and other aspects,” he said. “The wins and losses are in my name now, so that’s a little different.”

During his six seasons at CMU, the Chippewas forged five winning seasons and a 107-78 overall record. In 2007, his first season on the staff, Zelenock’s scouting abilities helped CMU to its first 20-win season since 1985 and first postseason victory in 25 years. The Chippewas won 20 straight sets over the course of eight matches midway through the season. In 2008, the Chippewas missed their second straight 20-win season by the slimmest of margins (19-11).

CMU posted its fourth straight winning season in 2009, and reached the MAC Tournament semifinals for the first time since 1996. The Chippewas tallied postseason victories over Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois to reach the semis.

The 2011 CMU team ended a 33-year drought as the Chippewas won the Mid-America Conference championship and earned the school’s first trip to the NCAA Volleyball Tournament.

Individually, during his six seasons on the staff Zelenock saw seven CMU players earn all-MAC honors as well as two capture all-freshman awards.

During his time as a student-athlete at CMU, Zelenock was a four-year starter for the men’s club volleyball team. He served as captain for three seasons, club president for two years and was a coach for two years.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from CMU in 2005 while majoring in physical education with a minor in secondary physical science. Zelenock and his wife, Jamie, have two sons, Jacoby, 3, and, Zander Lee, born Jan. 31, 2015.

The Zelenock File