PHILADELPHIA – Tyler Hagstrom, the reigning Patriot League Coach of the Year after leading Bucknell to its most wins in three decades, has been named the head volleyball coach at Penn.
 
Hagstrom takes over the Quakers after leading the Bison to a 21-5 record in 2024 including a school-record 13 wins in the Patriot League. He also has the highest winning percentage in Bucknell volleyball history.
 
"We are thrilled to welcome Tyler to University City as our new head volleyball coach," Alanna Wren, the T. Gibbs Kane, Jr. W'69 Director of Athletics and Recreation said. "Tyler has led winning teams at similar high-academic institutions during his time as a head and assistant coach. Penn volleyball is a team on the rise in the Ivy League, and we are confident that Tyler is the leader to get us to the next step in the program's evolution."
 
"I'm incredibly honored and excited to be named the head women's volleyball coach at the University of Pennsylvania," Hagstrom said. "Penn is a world-class institution with a proud athletic tradition, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to lead this program into its next chapter. I want to sincerely thank Athletic Director Alanna Wren and Senior Woman Administrator Rachel Kuperinsky for their trust and support throughout this process, as well as the entire hiring committee at Penn for believing in my vision for the program. Their commitment to building a competitive, student-centered volleyball program aligns perfectly with my own values and goals as a coach."
 
Hagstrom arrived in Lewisburg, Pa. during the abbreviated 2020-21 season. By his second full season in 2022, Bucknell posted its first winning campaign (15-11) since 2006 and its first appearance in the Patriot League Tournament in more than a decade. In his third year in 2023, the Bison again went 15-11 but their 11-5 record in the Patriot League was the best since 2003 and tied the program mark for most PL wins in a season. Bucknell ranked third nationally in digs per set in 2023.
 
Last year, Bucknell's 21-5 record marked its best season since 1995, and the 13 Patriot League victories were the most conference wins in school history. The Bison finished second in the league for the second consecutive season, then fell to Army in a five-set match at the Patriot League Tournament. The 2024 team led the league in points, assists, kills, opponent hitting percentage and digs.
 
Hagstrom leaves Bucknell with the highest winning percentage in program history (.551, 59-48) and the only head coach to have a winning record. During his five seasons, he coached ten all-league players, two Patriot League Liberos of the Year, two Patriot League Rookies of the Year, one Patriot League Setter of the Year, and the ECAC Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Prior to his success at Bucknell, Hagstrom spent four seasons at Princeton as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, helping the Tigers to three Ivy League titles and three NCAA Championship appearances. He coached 21 All-Ivy student-athletes, including two Ivy Players of the Year, one Ivy Rookie of the Year and one Ivy Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Hagstrom began his collegiate coaching career at UC Irvine in 2013-15, before serving as an assistant coach at Grand Canyon from 2015-16 including a brief stint as GCU's interim head coach.
 
The Fountain Valley, California native was a libero on three NAIA national championship teams at California Baptist. He led the national tournament in digs in helping the Lancers to the 2005 NAIA championship and broke the school record for digs in a season.
 
Hagstrom earned his bachelor's degree in business marketing from Cal Baptist in 2007 and a master's in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University in 2020. Hagstrom will be joined in the Philadelphia area by his wife, Nina, and children Dylan, Camila and Lucas.