Monmouth University Athletics

Karen Grygiel, who was named Monmouth University's first bowling coach in June of 2010, completed her 14th season as the head coach of the Hawks in 2022-23.

Grygiel has put Monmouth in the national conversation as the Hawks have finished in the NTCA Top 25 six of the past eight seasons.

Grygiel led the Hawks to 36 wins in 2023-24 with a third of those coming over nationally ranked opponents. Monmouth finished with a .500 record in the MEAC and the fifth overall seed before knocking off fourth-seeded UAB in the first round of the MEAC Championships. The Hawks won their first two matches over a ranked opponent when they defeated No. 23 Delaware State twice at the first meet of the season, Destination Orlando. She led her team ton the best weekend of the season in mid-November when MU picked up four ranked wins, including defeating No. 8 Sam Houston by 65 pins in traditional play at the UMES Hawk Classic. Grygiel coached freshman Morgan Davis to MEAC Rookie of the Year and All-MEAC Second Team honors, while senior Jenna Lehrer made her second career All-MEAC Third Team.

Grygiel coached the Hawks to a 55-51 overall record in 2022-23, including a 9-7 record in-conference and 11 victories over nationally ranked opponents. After nabbing the No. 3 seed in the MEAC tournament, Monmouth made a run all the way to the championship game, where they were runner-up to top-seed North Carolina A&T. Grygiel tallied 50+ wins in a season for the sixth time in seven years and, after beginning the season ranked No. 23 in the nation, received votes in every NTCA Top 25 poll of the season. Jamie Phelan was named to the All-MEAC Second Team, while Jenna Lehrer received Third Team honors.

Monmouth finished the 2021-22 season with an overall record of 54-53 under Grygiel's watch, downing 15 ranked opponents including a win in traditional play over No. 2 McKendree at the Northeast Classic. They earned the fourth seed in the MEAC with a 10-6 record in league play and ultimately finished fourth at the MEAC Championships. Grygiel reached the 50-win mark for the fifth time in the last five full seasons. The Hawks were ranked in each monthly NTCA poll throughout the regular season and finished the season ranked No. 25 in the NTCA Top 25 poll. Saige Yamada earned a spot on the All-MEAC Third Team, while Sierra Poole and Siyah Sweeny each earned a MEAC Rookie of the Week Award.

In a shortened 2020-21 campaign, Grygiel led Monmouth to its best postseason performances in program history. The Hawks finished second at the MEAC Championships and competed in their first USBC Sectionals event as well as the National Intercollegiate Team Championships. The Hawks finished ranked No. 20 in the NTCA Top 25 Poll after posting a 21-22 overall record. Individually, Jenna Lehrer became Monmouth's second individual to compete at the Intercollegiate Singles Championship. Freshman Jamie Phelan earned a spot on the All-MEAC Second Team, while senior Camelia Coffman and juniors Skylar Smith and Saige Yamada secured All-MEAC Third Team honors. Phelan also became the first Hawk to earn a spot on the All-NTCA Freshman Team.

Monmouth spent the entire 2019-20 ranked in the NTCA Top 25, rising to as high as #22 in the country. The Hawks closed the season with their fourth straight winning season at 54-43, including 22 victories over ranked opponents. 

The 2018-19 campaign was Monmouth's first as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the Hawks closed the year ranked No. 25 in the final NTCA poll. Monmouth posted a 51-47 overall record, including 12 victories over Top-10 opponents, and earned the No. 5 seed in the MEAC Tournament, where the Hawks placed fourth overall. Individually, Haley Solberg (Second Team) and Kyla Day (Third Team) were named to the 2018-19 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Bowling Teams.

In 2017-18, Grygiel once again had Monmouth in the national discussion as the Hawks placed fourth in the 2018 Southland Bowling League Championships, the program's highest finish as a member of the league, and ended the season ranked No. 24 in the NTCA poll. Senior Jackie Evans earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from the National Ten Pin Coaches Association and Monmouth was one of 38 teams in the country with a GPA better than 3.20. Additionally, six student-athletes earned individual academic accolades from the NTCA.

Grygiel led the Hawks to a terrific season in 2016-17 as the program held a position in the national rankings throughout the year. Monmouth was ranked as high as No. 9 in the NTCA Poll, the highest ranking in program history, and ended the season ranked No. 13, its highest finish ever. Grygiel also helped two Hawks earn individual recognition as she mentored All-America honorees Jackie Evans (Third Team) and Kaitlyn Reth (Honorable Mention). 

Monmouth also achieved success in the classroom in 2016-17 as the NTCA honored the team as one of 36 in the country with a GPA better than 3.20. In addition, five Hawks earned individual academic accolades from the NTCA.

Grygiel, who added the Director of Bowling to her title in 2014, became the National Chair of the NCAA Bowling Committee in 2015, after joining the Committee as the Northeast Region Chair in the Fall of 2014. The Brick Township native recently helped facilitate the donation and addition of four bowling lanes on the institution's campus thanks to a gift from alum Pat Ciniello '67, chairman of the board of QubicaAMF Worldwide. The Ciniello Family Bowling Center opened with a dedication event on October 10, 2014, and provides an excellent training facility for the Hawks.

In the winter of 2014, under Grygiel's leadership, the Hawks accepted an invitation to the Southland Bowling League, which features Sam Houston State (2014 NCAA Champion), Stephen F. Austin (2016 NCAA Champion), Arkansas State (2008 NCAA runner-up), Louisiana Tech, Monmouth, Tulane, Valparaiso University and Vanderbilt (2007 NCAA Champion, 2011 and 2013 NCAA runner-up). At the inaugural SBL Championship, Monmouth defeated eventual 2015 NCAA runner-up Stephen F. Austin in the first round, before bowing out of the competition.

Grygiel, who graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2009, grew up 20 minutes from West Long Branch in Brick Township, New Jersey. While with the Commodores, Grygiel won a National Championship in 2007 and made it to the semifinals in 2008. Active out of the lanes as well, she was President of Vandy's Student Athlete Advisory Committee, holding bi-weekly meetings with SAAC representatives from all of the varsity sports at the Southeastern Conference schools.

In 2005, Grygiel was a member of Vanderbilt's first recruiting class; a task she endured as the first coach of Monmouth's program. She is a USBC Silver Level Coach and a member of the Ocean County USBC Youth Association. Recently, she has been involved with the NCAA Coach's Forum, where she participated in crisis management exercises and improved her understanding of NCAA rules and regulations.Grygiel also serves as the Chair of the NCAA Bowling Committee. 

"It is an honor to join the Hawks," stated Grygiel at the time of her hiring. "I am very excited for the opportunity to start-up their NCAA Women's Bowling program and work with some very talented female bowlers from the area."

Grygiel added, "Having been part of the first recruiting class of NCAA bowlers at Vanderbilt University, I understand the importance of building a strong foundation of bowlers and work ethic. Monmouth University is in a prime location and offers great academic and athletic opportunities for the large talent pool of young female bowlers both locally and nationally."

In her first two seasons with the Blue & White, Grygiel led Monmouth to the Northeast Conference Championships, before the Hawks competed as an independent in 2013-14.

As a high school athlete she was a two-time co-captain and helped lead the Dragons to NJ State Championships in three out of her four high school seasons.

@MonmouthBowling -- #FlyHawks