Director of Athletics Jason Fautas announced Friday the hiring of Jessica Vormelker as Thiel College’s women’s basketball head coach.
A Thiel alumna, Vormelker spent the last two seasons as the assistant women’s basketball coach at Allegheny. The Gators went 12-8 in Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) play in 2022-23 and qualified for the league’s championship tournament as the fifth seed.
“We could not be happier to welcome Jessica back home,” Fautas said. “It was evident to me when she met with different stakeholders on campus and our student-athletes, she could connect with them and set a clear vision for the program as we move forward that will develop our student-athletes holistically to become the best versions of themselves. I look forward to the next chapter of Thiel College Women’s Basketball as Jessica builds a program that will be successful on and off the court.”
In addition to her assistant coaching responsibilities at Allegheny, Vormelker was the advisor for the College’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). She handled game day management for the school’s women’s volleyball team and served in a facilities management role for the David V. Wise Center and Robertson Athletic Complex.
Prior to her time at Allegheny, Vormelker was the graduate assistant coach at Waynesburg for two seasons.
“I would like to thank Director of Athletics Jason Fautas and the search committee for selecting me as the next head coach of the Thiel College women’s basketball program,” Vormelker said. “I feel truly humbled and blessed for the opportunity to come back to my alma mater. Being an alum, I know firsthand the significance that Thiel can have on someone’s life. For me, basketball is the avenue to have a positive impact in all areas of the lives of the women within this program. I am absolutely thrilled to return to a place that I love so much.”
Vormelker was one of the most decorated players in Thiel women’s basketball history, succeeding on the court, in the classroom and in leadership roles.
Vormelker was a member of the D3hoops.com 2019 All-America Team. An honorable mention selection, she was the first player in Thiel history to be named to a D3hoops.com All-America Team. She was a two-time D3hoops.com Great Lakes All-Region Team honoree, including Second Team accolades in 2019.
Vormelker was a two-time finalist for the prestigious Jostens Trophy (2019, 2018) and was the first women’s basketball player in Thiel history to be named the PAC Player of the Year (2019). She was a four-time All-PAC selection, including First Team accolades in 2019.
Named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District First Team in 2018, Vormelker was twice selected as the PAC SAAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month (Dec. 2018, Dec. 2017). She was also named to the PAC Spring Academic Honor Roll four times.
A Dean’s Key recipient as an eight-semester Dean’s List student, Vormelker was the president of Thiel’s SAAC and also served as vice president with the PAC’s SAAC.
Vormelker earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and special education from Thiel in 2019. She received a master’s in special education from Waynesburg in 2021.
