2023 MAAC Coach of the Year
Mauro Miletic enters his fourth season spearheading the Women's Volleyball program. Miletic returned to the Jaspers on Aug. 1, 2022, previously serving as an assistant coach for the Jaspers from 2014-2016.
"I am thrilled to be returning to Manhattan as the head coach of the volleyball program," said Miletic. "I'm looking forward to developing high-level student-athletes and bringing the Jaspers back to the top of the MAAC."
After rebuilding the team in 2022, his second season in 2023 sparked a new beginning as the team reached its highest win total since 2016 with nine. Another milestone was reached in October of that season when a road win over Siena marked the program's first road win since March of 2021 during the abridged 2020-2021 school year. Both of these steps forward earned him proper recognition by his coaching peers as he was named the 2023 MAAC Coach of the Year.
On top of a new peak in wins, outside hitters Junior Maike Bertens and Freshman Mikalah Curran were each named to All-MAAC Second Team and Third Team, respectively. Bertens led the team in kills with 291, hitting at a .165 clip. Newcomer Curran stayed just behind her at 275, while also leading the team in service aces with 27.
As an assistant for the Jaspers, Miletic helped Manhattan post a 53-47 record over his three seasons in Riverdale. Malia McGuinness was named MAAC Player of the Year in 2014. Miletic also developed 4 All-MAAC players: McGuinness (First Team, 2014), Jade Gray (Second Team, 2015), Claire Van Dyk (Second Team, 2015), and Ivana Kostic (Second Team, 2016). The Jaspers also qualified for the MAAC Tournament in 2014 and 2015, including a semifinals berth in 2014.
In each of his first 2 years with the program, Manhattan recorded 20 wins and qualified for the MAAC Tournament. The Jaspers went 21-13 overall and tied a school record with 13 MAAC wins in 2014. That same year they ranked third nationally with 2351 digs and sixth nationally with 17.95 digs per set. Then in 2015, Manhattan had the most service aces in the country (242) and finished second in the nation with 1.91 aces per set.
Miletic previously spent one season as an assistant coach with the men’s volleyball program at Baruch College, which won the CUNY Athletic Confernece Championship with an undefeated conference record and qualified for the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2014. Miletic has also worked as a head coach for the Leman Prep School girls’ varsity team out of Lower Manhattan. His work doesn't stop there, as he also gives private volleyball lessons and holds camps and clinics throughout the area.
Miletic played professional volleyball for several years in Croatia, France, Slovenia and Puerto Rico. During his stint in Puerto Rico, he began his coaching career with the Gigantes de Carolina, winning a championship with the men’s program and serving as coach for the women’s team as well. Miletic also worked with the Puerto Rican women’s national team for a short period of time.
A native of Croatia, he graduated from Rijeka Maritime College in 2001. Miletic and his wife, Aileen, have two daughters.
