šĀ For the first time since the close of the 20th century, Duke Volleyball will embark on a search for a new leader. On Monday, Jolene Nagel, the programās esteemed head coach for 27 years, officially announced her retirement, closing the book on one of the most decorated tenures in the sport.
Nagel leaves behind a powerful legacy of excellence at Duke University, built on competitive success and dedication to her student-athletes. The four-time ACC Coach of the Year guided the Blue Devils Volleyball program to 13 NCAA Tournament appearances and an impressive four ACC Championships.
A Storied Tenure Defined by Success
Joining Duke in 1999, Nagel quickly established the program as a consistent force in the highly competitive Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Just two years into her tenure, she delivered the team’s fourth conference tournament championship, setting the tone for the next two decades.
At the time of her retirement, Nagel ranked second in career wins among active ACC coaches, with a total of 514 victories achieved during her time in Durham. Her leadership helped develop a stellar roster of individual talent, including four ACC Players of the Year, five ACC Defensive Players of the Year, and numerous All-ACC selections.
> “Iām proud to be a Blue Devil, and I want to thank Duke University, Duke Athletics… and, most importantly, the Duke student-athletes Iāve had the privilege to coach,” Nagel said in a statement released by the program.
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Nagel’s teams achieved 20 winning seasons, highlighted by a dominant eight-year stretch between 2004 and 2012 where Duke was a perennial NCAA contender.
Focus Shifts to Health as Search Begins
The decision to step away comes as Nagel prioritizes her personal health, stating she plans to focus on recovering from upcoming knee surgeries.
Her retirement follows a challenging period for the program, which recently turned in the worst season of her tenure, finishing the 2025 campaign with a 5-26 record. This marks only the second time in her 27 years at Duke that the team has posted consecutive losing records.
However, Duke Athletics Director Nina King focused entirely on Nagelās immense and lasting impact: āJoleneās care and compassion for her players, staff and everyone around her are unmatched, and we are truly grateful for her tremendous service to Duke. Her legacy will live on through the profound impact she has had on the lives of so many student-athletes.ā
Before her celebrated run at Duke, Nagel held coaching positions at Cornell and Georgetown. Her decorated career began as a standout player at Edinboro, where she was later inducted into her alma materās hall of fame in 1997.
The search for a new Duke Volleyball Head Coach begins immediately, marking a pivotal moment for the program as it looks to build on Nagel’s foundational success and return to the top tier of the ACC.