In the 2023 season, Trent Kersten became the leader of the LMU women's volleyball program, achieving success and generating anticipation for the next season.
The Lions concluded the season with an impressive 20-6 overall record and a remarkable 13-3 WCC record, marking their first 20-win season since 2018. A notable highlight was their double victory over nationally-ranked San Diego, achieving a season sweep. Additionally, the team clinched the second spot in the WCC, an accomplishment not accomplished since prior to 2018.
Before coming to The Bluff, Kersten had a successful three seasons leading the San Jose State Spartans.
One of the rising young coaches in the sport, Kersten has built San José State into a legitimate contender in the Mountain West Conference during his tenure. The Spartans finished 2021 with a 19-10 overall record and 13-5 MW record. The 19 wins were the most by a San José State team in 15 years and the third time in five seasons that the program finished above .500. The 13 conference wins were the most Mountain West wins in school history, until 2022 when the team set a new high mark with a second-place league finish, a 21-9 overall record, and school-record 14 conference wins.
Prior to his time at San José State, Kersten spent five seasons on the TCU coaching staff, where the team played in the postseason four of the five years. As the Recruiting Coordinator, his 2019 class was ranked fifth in the nation by Volleyball Magazine and sixth in the nation by Prep Volleyball.
Active in the USA Volleyball High Performance programs, he has assisted in developing athletes ages 12 to 18. Kersten’s 2019 team won a gold medal at the High-Performance Championships and was selected to the 2020 U.S. Girls Youth National Training Team coaching staff as an assistant coach. He has assisted at the USA Volleyball Women’s National Team Open Program tryouts and was an assistant coach at the 2021 USA Volleyball National Team Development Program Winter Training Series.
Kersten played three seasons at UCLA under legendary men’s coaches Al Scates and John Speraw, the current USA Men’s National Team Head Coach. As a walk-on, Kersten was a three-year starter and earned a scholarship during his playing career. A 2015 All-MPSF honorable mention selection, he ranked among the nation’s top 15 in hitting percentage (.387) and blocks per set (1.08) in his final year.
Kersten has extensive experience working with club teams in California and Texas. He has been responsible for managing coaching staff and working with budgets for each team.
Kersten graduated from UCLA in June of 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in geography and environmental studies. He and his wife, Tara, have two daughters, Kolbie and Reese.
