NYU Women’s Volleyball Head Coach Jolie Ward was fired on Monday, Oct. 16. Women’s and Men’s Assistant Volleyball Coach Karl France was named Acting Head Coach the same day.

Though the team was 5-19 under Ward this season, the timing is unusual, as women’s volleyball has several games left on its schedule and senior night — a day to honor the seniors on the team — is this Thursday.

“We cannot comment on personnel matters,” Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Director of Athletics Christopher Bledsoe said. “We wish Ms. Ward good luck with her future endeavors.”

A player on the team, who asked to remain anonymous, was taken by surprise when she heard the news. She said the team has been kept in the dark about the reason for Ward’s firing.

“Truthfully, no one knows anything except that she was fired,” the player said.

NYU will begin a search for the next Women’s Volleyball coach when the season concludes, Bledsoe said in a statement.

Email Sayer Devlin at [email protected].