UTICA, NY – The SUNYIT Athletics Department has named Jake Bluhm as the new head men's and women's volleyball coach.

Bluhm replaces Rebecca Fletcher, who spent four years in the same role at SUNYIT before accepting the position of head women's volleyball coach at Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Md.

"Jake is well prepared to take both men's and women's volleyball to championship form in short order," said SUNYIT Athletic Director Kevin Grimmer.  "Our students will benefit tremendously because of his extensive participation in camps and clinics and his focus on teaching and volleyball development."

Bluhm comes to SUNYIT after serving a three-year stint as the assistant women's volleyball coach for the State University of New York at Cortland, where he also graduated with a Master of Science degree in health education this past February after graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education in December of 2004.  During his time there, the team compiled an 89-31 record and made three straight appearances in the SUNYAC conference tournament while advancing to the championship match twice.

In between degrees, Bluhm held various teaching positions in the Albany area before taking over as the head girls' varsity volleyball coach at South Onondaga High School from 2008 through 2010.  He also served two different stints as the junior varsity boys' volleyball coach for South Colonie High School in 2000 and 2007 and has annually participated as a counselor with three different volleyball camps across the Northeast region for the past several years.

The SUNYIT women's volleyball team finished with a 21-11 record last season and made an appearance in the NEAC Tournament semifinals.  The men's squad finished 9-16 overall last year in the program's inaugural season as a member of the United Volleyball Conference.