Married Volleyball Coaches Take on Separate Programs in Central Valley

After decades of coaching together, the Rosens now lead rival teams in Fresno and Clovis.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

For over 20 years, Mark and Leisa Rosen coached volleyball together at the University of Michigan. Now, the married couple has returned to California's Central Valley, where they got married, and are leading separate programs - Leisa as the head coach at Fresno State and Mark as the first head coach of the brand-new program at Clovis Community College.

Why it matters

The Rosens' story highlights the challenges and opportunities that can arise when longtime coaching partners decide to pursue their own head coaching roles. Their ability to maintain a collaborative relationship while leading rival programs in the same region could inspire other coaching couples and set an example for how to navigate such a unique dynamic.

The details

After decades of coaching together, Leisa Rosen wanted the opportunity to be a head coach, so she took the job at Fresno State in 2023. Her husband Mark, who had been an associate head coach for a long time, is now leading the brand-new volleyball program at Clovis Community College, which started in 2025. While there are major differences between the Division I and junior college levels, the Rosens still share the same goals of recruiting local talent and potentially having players progress from Mark's program to Leisa's.

  • The Rosens got married in California's Central Valley over 30 years ago.
  • Leisa Rosen became the head volleyball coach at Fresno State in 2023.
  • Clovis Community College started its new volleyball program in 2025, with Mark Rosen as the first head coach.

The players

Leisa Rosen

The head volleyball coach at Fresno State University.

Mark Rosen

The first head coach of the brand-new volleyball program at Clovis Community College.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I had been an associate head coach for a really long time, and I wanted the opportunity to be in charge.”

— Leisa Rosen, Head Coach, Fresno State Volleyball (yahoo.com)

“Lisa started looking at jobs and interviewing for jobs, and one of the jobs was Fresno State, which is ironic because we got married in the Valley. Now, 30-some years later, we're back in the Valley.”

— Mark Rosen, Head Coach, Clovis Community College Volleyball (yahoo.com)

“For me, to do something fresh and new that I've never done before, it was kind of a cool challenge. We were trying to recruit players with literally nothing and get them to buy into the vision.”

— Mark Rosen, Head Coach, Clovis Community College Volleyball (yahoo.com)

“I think we always start with home first. Some of our best players right now are local kids. If we can get some of those local kids to stay home, it helps us in every avenue.”

— Leisa Rosen, Head Coach, Fresno State Volleyball (yahoo.com)

“Obviously, if they progress and advance well enough, one of our ultimate goals would be to have a player come from our program to Leisa's program. We can have this progression within our family. Even that's going to help Central Valley volleyball be better.”

— Mark Rosen, Head Coach, Clovis Community College Volleyball (yahoo.com)

What’s next

Mark Rosen will continue building the new volleyball program at Clovis Community College, while Leisa Rosen will look to lead Fresno State to success in the upcoming season.

The takeaway

The Rosens' story demonstrates how longtime coaching partners can navigate the challenges of leading rival programs, while also highlighting the potential benefits of having a collaborative relationship that can help develop talent and elevate the sport within their shared community.