Deana Jespersen, head coach of the Rowan women’s volleyball team, passed away on Sunday after a battle with breast cancer. She was 51.

Jespersen spent 12 seasons with the Profs as their head coach. She took a leave of absence from the team in October to undergo breast cancer treatment.

In her time as head coach, she has led the Profs to two New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances. She’s also a two-time recipient of the NJAC Joy Solomen Coach of the year award.

Before her time at Rowan University, Jespersen spent ten seasons as head coach for the Neumann University Knights. Her teams at Neumann won three Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) championships and she was named CSAC Coach of the Year five times.

Jespersen is survived by her husband, Orlin, her son, Dane, and her daughter, Bryn.

For comments/questions about this story, DM us on Instagram @thewhitatrowan or email [email protected]