Jen Gomez quickly established Oklahoma City University’s revived program as a contender in the Sooner Athletic Conference. She aims for even greater heights for the Stars.
At OCU, Gomez has coached two two-time all-region players and three two-time all-conference honorees. OCU has had NAIA Region VI front-row specialist of the year and SAC hitter of the year Whitney Kress and honorable-mention all-American Xiaoting Ma. Gomez has led OCU to a three-year record of 93-26.
Last season, the Stars were 33-8 and advanced to the conference tournament semifinals. OCU finished tied for second in the regular-season standings. Four Stars made all-SAC, and Lindsay Hansen became an NAIA scholar-athlete award winner.
In 2007, OCU went 34-10 and reached the NAIA Region VI semifinals. The Stars were second in the SAC regular-season standings and runners-up in the SAC Tournament. The Stars had four all-region selections, four all-SAC picks and two NAIA scholar-athlete award winners.
In Gomez’ first year with OCU, the Stars went 26-8 and advanced to the NAIA Region VI Tournament for the first time in the program’s history. OCU surpassed its previous single-season high victory total 10 matches into the season and finished tied for second in the conference. Five OCU players were all-conference, and two were all-region.
Gomez came to OCU after being an assistant at Angelo State (Texas) for two years. In Gomez’ first year there, Angelo State made the Lone Star Conference Tournament and posted its best record in 14 years.
Gomez had responsibilities in every area of the Angelo State program coaching for Kathleen Brasfield and former Olympian Ruth Lawanson. Gomez specialized in hitting and coached all-conference hitters Lindsay Huling, Amber Smith and Nicole Stoffel. Angelo State led the conference in hitting percentage in 2004.
Before arriving at Angelo State, Gomez spent three years as a full-time assistant and one as a student assistant at her alma mater, Colorado State-Pueblo. She helped Tom Shoji in planning and supervision of practices, weight training, game management, recruiting and statistics management.
Gomez was also assistant to the athletic director at Colorado State-Pueblo, handling game management for all home indoor athletic events. She coordinated travel for eight athletic teams and managed marketing and promotion of the basketball programs. She also aided in fund-raising and community relations projects for the athletic department.
Gomez has been coaching club teams since entering the profession. She helped coach the Oklahoma 16-and-under team to a third-place finish nationally in the 2008 USA Volleyball High Performance Championships. It was the state’s highest placing in the event.
As an athlete, Gomez was all-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 1999 and 2000 for Colorado State-Pueblo, then known as Southern Colorado. She was named outstanding senior female athlete at the school in 1999-2000 as well as academic all-conference and all-region in 1999. Before Colorado State-Pueblo, Gomez was NJCAA all-American and academic all-American at Garden City Community College (Kan.).
At OCU, Gomez teaches in the physical education department and guides the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, which gives student-athletes a voice with OCU administration. Gomez earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science/health promotion and wellness from Colorado State-Pueblo. She also holds a master’s degree in health and human performance from Fort Hays State (Kan.). She was a kinesiology lecturer at Angelo State.
From Dodge City, Kan., Gomez was an all-state volleyball player while also playing basketball and fastpitch softball.
She is married (Chanc).
