Jena Otec joined the University of Louisville volleyball staff in Louisville, Kentucky, as an assistant coach in January 2026. She arrived after three seasons as an assistant at Western Kentucky and a 2025 professional season with the Grand Rapids Rise in Major League Volleyball.
At Western Kentucky, Otec was part of a staff that helped the Hilltoppers reach the NCAA Tournament in each of her three seasons. In 2025, WKU went 27-6, posted a 15-1 record in Conference USA, won its third consecutive conference tournament title, and claimed both the regular-season and tournament championships in the league. In 2024, the Hilltoppers finished 28-7, went 18-0 in conference play, carried a 24-match winning streak into the postseason, and returned to the NCAA Tournament after another Conference USA title run. During her first collegiate season in 2023, WKU finished 30-5 with a 16-0 conference record, won the regular-season and tournament crowns, and secured an automatic NCAA bid. Her work with defensive players was a consistent part of that success, including strong production from Abby Schaefer, Kelsey Brangers, and Tayler Baron.
