Sarah Tischler Takes Over As Penn State Volleyball’s Director Of Operations

Posted on by Ethan Kasales

Sarah Tischler (née Bond) was hired as the Penn State women’s volleyball program’s new director of operations last week following a national search for Tina Readling’s replacement.

Tischler’s hiring was announced by the program via social media on March 18, and her first day on the job in University Park was this past Monday. Readling held the role of director of operations for the Nittany Lions the last three seasons, but wanted to get back into coaching following Penn State’s eighth NCAA national championship, and was hired by Wake Forest as an assistant coach on February 6.

Tischler earned her bachelor’s degree in visual arts from the University of Illinois, Springfield in 2017, then added a master’s in communications from the same institution in 2020. Tischler, a former right-side hitter, played her final three seasons of collegiate volleyball at UIS, which competes at the NCAA’s Division II level, after beginning her career at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Tischler was an assistant coach at her alma mater for two seasons before spending one season as an assistant coach at Drake University, her first job at the Division I level, where she also was responsible for organizing the program’s travel and gameday operations on top of her duties working with the Bulldogs’ setters and hitters.

Tischler previously gained experience working with prospects at the club level, assisting Sports Performance Volleyball Club in Aurora, Illinois, for five seasons. Tischler, who also played for SPVB during her prep career, most recently spent the 2022-24 seasons in Tuscaloosa as the operations coordinator for the University of Alabama’s volleyball program. Tischler helped her SPVB team win a silver medal at the 2013 AAU national championship. That’s the same club where 2026 Penn State outside hitter commit Haley Burgdorf currently competes.

Head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley released a statement accompanying Tischler’s hiring and was complimentary of her work ethic and the experience she brings to the Nittany Lions. As a Naperville North High School standout, Tischler and Chicago’s Schumacher-Cawley have plenty of similar Illinois and Midwest connections. Tischler married her husband, Will, in May 2024.

“I am thrilled to welcome Sarah, Will, and their families to Penn State,” Schumacher-Cawley said. “Sarah’s passion for making an impact is undeniable, and her drive to help Penn State volleyball reach new heights aligns perfectly with our vision for the program.

“She brings a tireless work ethic, a commitment to excellence, and an understanding of what it takes to sustain success at the highest level. She fits in with my vision and how she can help the program achieve greatness on and off the court. I have no doubt that Sarah will play a crucial role in shaping the future of our program, and I am excited to see the positive influence she will have on our team, our culture, community, and the Penn State volleyball family.”

Like many volleyball coaches and support staffers around the country, Tischler was in attendance for last year’s Final Four in Louisville, Kentucky, which coincided with the annual AVCA Convention. She posted a video on Instagram of her watching from the stands as Penn State celebrated its latest national championship. Now, she’s helping the Nittany Lions in their quest to win their ninth NCAA title.