MEDFORD, MA (October 27, 2027) – Jocelyn Rovniak, previously the assistant sailing coach at Tulane University since 2021, has been hired as the associate head coach of the Tufts University Sailing team.
At Tulane, Rovniak played an important role in the sailing program's impressive rise up the national ladder. After joining Tulane as the program's first full-time assistant coach, she helped the Green Wave capture two national championships, earn five additional national championship podium finishes, and collect 20 All-America honors.
At Tufts, she will work alongside head coach
Johnny Norfleet who is now in his fourth year guiding the Jumbos' coed and women's sailing programs.
"I am very excited to have Jocelyn on board in this new Associate Head Coach role," Norfleet said. "Tulane Sailing has seen a meteoric rise over the past decade, and Jocelyn has been a stable presence throughout much of that rise and has played an active role in building the successful program they have today. In particular, her experience as an active collaborator in Tulane's recruiting process and her track record of mentoring and developing student-athletes will make an immediate impact on our current team while also helping shape the long-term trajectory of our program."
During Rovniak's time at Tulane, the Green Wave won the 2022 Open Dinghy National Championship and had Ava Anderson win the 2023 Women's Single-handed National Championship. Rovniak now joins a Tufts program seeking a return to national prominence under Coach Norfleet. In the final 2026 national rankings last spring, the Tufts women's team was #9 and the coed squad was #11.
"I am incredibly excited to join Tufts University and begin the next chapter of my coaching career with such a remarkable program," Rovniak said. "Tufts has a special combination of academic excellence, a strong athletic tradition, and a commitment to developing student-athletes both on and off the water. Those qualities resonated deeply with me and made this opportunity especially appealing. I'm also looking forward to working alongside Johnny, his experience and dedication to our sport has inspired me, and I know he has plenty of knowledge to pass along. I'm excited to also contribute to an environment that challenges student-athletes to grow as sailors, teammates, and leaders. I'm grateful for this opportunity and can't wait to get started and be part of the continued success of Tufts Sailing."
Rovniak is a 2018 graduate of Old Dominion University, where she was a two-time captain for the Monarchs and earned a degree in Health and Physical Education. After graduation, she remained at ODU to pursue a master's degree in Coaching Education while simultaneously beginning her coaching career nearby at Christopher Newport University, where she served first as an assistant coach before being elevated to Interim Head Coach in 2019.
For Tufts, elevating what was previously an assistant coach position to Associate Head Coach represents an important investment in the future of the program. Rovniak started in her new position at Tufts on October 26.
"My coaching philosophy centers on creating an environment where sailors are challenged to improve, supported in their development, and empowered to take ownership of their performance," she said. "I believe the best teams are built on strong relationships, accountability, and a shared commitment to getting better every day. In college sailing, that means developing technical skills and tactical decision-making while also teaching sailors to be adaptable, resilient, and confident in their ability to navigate challenging situations independently. Ultimately, I want our sailors to compete at the highest level while growing as leaders, teammates and people, all while maintaining a genuine passion for the sport. My goal is to help build a culture at Tufts where continuous improvement and team success go hand in hand."
--JUMBOS--
