Legendary Emory University volleyball head coach Jenny McDowell has been announced as an inductee into the American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame Class of 2026 as announced by the organization Thursday afternoon via press release.

McDowell is part of a four-member induction class as she will be joined by Candance Moats, Mark Pavlik and Mary Wise in this year's class. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place Thursday, Dec. 17, during an awards banquet at the 2026 AVCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

A standout player at the University of Georgia where she had her number retired, McDowell led the Eagles for 27 years before stepping down from the position in 2023. Her nationally prominent run was highlighted by the Eagles winning Division III national championships in 2008 and 2018 and making the NCAA postseason every year she was the head coach.

During her time with Emory, she recorded 826 victories and .819 winning percentage, totals that are good for fifth and fourth all-time, respectively, in Division III history. McDowell coached 52 AVCA All-Americans, including two AVCA Players of the Year and 85 All-Region selections. She also was the AVCA Division III Coach of the Year twice, and an AVCA Region Coach of the Year eight times.

After leading Emory for almost three decades, McDowell moved to League One Volleyball (LOVB) as the director of coach development. In that position, she was responsible for training and educating LOVB club coaches.

For the full AVCA Hall of Fame release, please click here.