New Jersey City University Athletics

Christopher Feliciano `03, men’s and women’s volleyball coach (2004-08); men’s volleyball athlete (1999-03)
Christopher Feliciano built a volleyball legacy at NJCU in a very brief period of time—accomplishments which led to unprecedented history for conference-affiliated women’s sports at the University. Feliciano, the 2007 New Jersey Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, will always be remembered as the first coach to ever bring home an NJAC championship in a women’s sport in the history of the institution when NJCU won the 2005 NJAC championship and became the first women’s team in school history to advance to an NCAA Division III Tournament. NJCU reached the NJAC finals in three consecutive years (2005-06-07).
 
During his tenure, NJCU posted a 43-match home-court winning streak from 2004-07. In his five years on the sideline, NJCU won 13 tournament titles, including four in 2007.
 
In five seasons as head women’s volleyball coach (2004-08), he had a jaw-dropping record of 131-39 for a .771 winning percentage in 170 matches. The previous record for wins was 64 by his mentor, Frank Cella. In his first four seasons he had a record of 117-28 (.807).
Feliciano owns program records for wins, winning percentage and matches coached. He has 53 more wins than any other coach in the 25-year history of the program, and is the only coach to have a career winning percentage above. 600. He directed NJCU to by far the most successful four-year stretch in its history.
 
“I am both humbled and honored to be welcomed into the Hall of Fame,” said Feliciano. “This is an honor that I do not take lightly. I was fortunate enough while at NJCU as a player to be surrounded by outstanding teammates and as a coach by outstanding players who believed in my vision for NJCU volleyball. Finally, without my family, none of this would be possible. My mother introduced me to the sport and kept me moving forward even when she battled a terminal illness. I am forever grateful.”
 
Feliciano also served as head men’s volleyball coach for four years from 2004-07, finishing with a mark of 72-54 (.571). He was named the 2005 North East Collegiate Volleyball Association Metro Division Coach of the Year. He is the second winningest men’s coach in the program’s annals, only behind Cella’s total of 108.
 
A standout student-athlete for the Knights, Feliciano was a four-year star for the Gothic Knights at outside hitter from 1999-2000, and 2002-2003, missing the 2001 season with a right knee injury that required surgery. He was a two-year captain from 2002-2003. Blessed with amazing power, Feliciano finished his career with 1,082 kills.

He left NJCU to become head coach at Division I Rider where he is also that school’s all-time winningest coach with 117 victories in eight seasons. The Broncs won 10-plus conference matches each of his final  five years, and tallied at least 15 wins six consecutive seasons. Feliciano just completed his first year as head coach at the University of New Hampshire, leading the Wildcats to 17 victories.