Jan. 12, 2011

Lawrenceville, N.J. - Former Fordham assistant volleyball coach Christopher Feliciano has been hired as the new head volleyball coach at Rider University, it was announced today.

Feliciano comes to the Broncs from the Bronx (Fordham University) where he served as an assistant coach for the Rams this past season.

Feliciano helped Fordham to a 17-win season with the Rams qualifying for the Atlantic 10 Championship Tournament, losing to Duquesne in five sets.

"I am really excited to be here," Feliciano said. "Don Harnum has given me a great opportunity to be part of a great University and I am excited to work with the program. Our goal is to be competitive in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference every year."

At Fordham, Feliciano helped scout opponents and also worked with individual players via video training sessions and identified recruits for the Ram program.

Feliciano is a 2003 graduate of New Jersey City University where he served as the men's and women's head coach for volleyball until 2007.

Feliciano was the winningest coach in NJCU history with a 117-28 record in 145 matches for a .807 winning percentage and was the 2007 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Coach of the Year.

NJCU appeared in the postseason in each of Feliciano's years as head coach, the only four years the Knights have ever appeared in a postseason tournament.

Feliciano also served as head men's volleyball coach at NJCU for four years from 2004-07, finishing with a mark of 72-54 (.571). He was named the 2005 North East Collegiate Volleyball Association Metro Division Coach of the Year.

Feliciano is the eighth coach in the 33 year history of volleyball at Rider and he replaces Emily Ahlquist who resigned in December after 12 seasons.