Our Staff
Jacob Vander Beek
Assistant Coach/ Camp Director
Bio
Vander Beek switches coasts after establishing himself as a talented coach and professional volleyball player in California for the prior 15 years. On the sidelines, he has spent the last year as an assistant coach for both indoor and beach volleyball at Fullerton College. At Fullerton, Vander Beek immersed himself in film study, player recruitment and student-athlete development. Before landing at Fullerton, he helped lead Canyon High School to the league championship as its varsity assistant coach and junior varsity head coach.
As a player, Vander Beek continues to excel on the professional volleyball circuit as an outside hitter for the Las Vegas Ramblers. He also went overseas for a stint with the Team Durham Palatinates in England, leading them to their first-ever Premier League championship.
A 2020 graduate of Westcliff University in Irving, Calif., Vander Beek was a First Team All-Cal Pac selection and president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
As a player, Vander Beek continues to excel on the professional volleyball circuit as an outside hitter for the Las Vegas Ramblers. He also went overseas for a stint with the Team Durham Palatinates in England, leading them to their first-ever Premier League championship.
A 2020 graduate of Westcliff University in Irving, Calif., Vander Beek was a First Team All-Cal Pac selection and president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Shannon Thompson
Head Coach
Bio
In her first year at the helm in South Orange, Thompson took over a rebuilding program that was picked to finish 11th n the BIG EAST, but led them to 15 victories and a seventh-place finish in the conference. In year two, Thompson's Pirates took another step forward, increasing their BIG EAST win total from six to eight and again exceeded expectations by tying for sixth place after being picked ninth.
Thompson came to Seton Hall after two successful years guided the Canisius to back-to-back top-four finishes in the MAAC regular season and reached at least the MAAC Championship semifinals in both campaigns with a title game appearance in 2020-21.
A native of Moorpark, Calif., Thompson started her coaching career with the club program at VC Tirol in Innsbruck, Austria. She also played professionally for VC Tirol from 2013-15, and as a team captain, helped lead the team to a third-place finish in the Austrian Division I Bundesliga.
Thompson was a four-year letterwinner and a four-time First Team All-Little East Conference selection during her collegiate playing days at UMass Boston from 2009-12, helping the Beacons to four consecutive conference tournament championships and NCAA appearances. The Beacons' career leader in kills (1,803), digs (1,202) and solo blocks (120), she was the first player in conference history to be named Offensive Player of the Year three times in addition to being tabbed as the conference's Rookie of the Year. She closed out her college career by earning her third Little East Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player award and leading the Beacons to the 2012 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball National Championship Tournament quarterfinals.
For her outstanding efforts on the court, Thompson was inducted into UMass Boston's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.
Thompson came to Seton Hall after two successful years guided the Canisius to back-to-back top-four finishes in the MAAC regular season and reached at least the MAAC Championship semifinals in both campaigns with a title game appearance in 2020-21.
A native of Moorpark, Calif., Thompson started her coaching career with the club program at VC Tirol in Innsbruck, Austria. She also played professionally for VC Tirol from 2013-15, and as a team captain, helped lead the team to a third-place finish in the Austrian Division I Bundesliga.
Thompson was a four-year letterwinner and a four-time First Team All-Little East Conference selection during her collegiate playing days at UMass Boston from 2009-12, helping the Beacons to four consecutive conference tournament championships and NCAA appearances. The Beacons' career leader in kills (1,803), digs (1,202) and solo blocks (120), she was the first player in conference history to be named Offensive Player of the Year three times in addition to being tabbed as the conference's Rookie of the Year. She closed out her college career by earning her third Little East Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player award and leading the Beacons to the 2012 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball National Championship Tournament quarterfinals.
For her outstanding efforts on the court, Thompson was inducted into UMass Boston's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.
Kelsey Goodman
Assistant Coach
Bio
Goodman brings a wealth of volleyball coaching knowledge to Seton Hall. Her arrival comes after serving as Mitchell College’s head coach during the 2021 season. At Mitchell, Goodman was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the program, including budget management, recruiting, fundraising, scheduling, hiring of staff and overall team wellness. Under her tutelage, junior Olivia DeLoach was named First Team All-Conference.
Prior to her time at Mitchell, Goodman was an assistant coach at Randolph College in Lynchburg, Va. for two seasons. In her first year, the WildCats posted 13 wins - the most since 2014 - and earned a berth in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament.