Josh Wielebnicki was hired in April 2017 and has completed two seasons at the University of Pennsylvania as an assistant volleyball coach. With the help of Wielebnicki, the Quakers put together a 12-11 record, their best record since 2013. Notable conference wins came against Yale -- a team the Quakers hadn't beaten since 2010 -- and a sweep of Ivy rivals Columbia and Brown.
Wielebnicki came to Penn after five years at the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) where he served as an assistant coach with the Flames, helping out with all aspects of the volleyball program.
While at UIC, Wielebnicki was an integral part of coordinating daily practice plans, analyzing and critiquing skills and overall player development. In addition, Wielebnicki was responsible for coordinating all team travel, game-film exchange and post-game film breakdown.
To go along with his coaching duties with UIC, Wielebnicki was also the head coach for the 17-Elite team of the Chicago Elite Volleyball Club. In this role, he helped prepare elite players for the collegiate level while promoting and educating student-athletes throughout the Chicagoland area.
Prior to his time in the Windy City, Wielebnicki spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Evansville. During his time with the Purple Aces, he supported various facets of the program, including working primarily with outside hitters, opposite hitters and defensive specialists.
Before Evansville, Wielebnicki was the top assistant coach at Western Carolina University for one season. In addition to his work with position players, he oversaw program camps and managed fundraising efforts.
During his undergrad days, Wielebnicki served as a student manager and student assistant at Illinois State for the women's volleyball program, while also handling captain duties and playing on the men's volleyball club team. During his stint with the Redbirds, he assisted the women's team to a 2007 NCAA Tournament appearance, and a second-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference.
On the men's club team, Wielebnicki led the squad to a 2008 third-place finish in Division I-AA, where he played outside hitter, defensive specialist and libero.
A native of Hinsdale, Ill., Wielebnicki attended and played volleyball at Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill. from 2004-06 before graduating from Illinois State in 2008 with a history degree and a minor in athletic coaching. He also holds a Master’s of Education in Instructional Leadership from UIC, which he completed in 2016.
Josh and his wife, Julie, reside in Philadelphia.
