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Alums including three student-athletes returned to CSUMB to pursue careers in athletics

Cal State Monterey Bay often welcomes back former Otters with open arms. Nowhere has that been more true than within the Otter Athletics program, where five CSUMB alumni have found homes and careers as Otters.

Alumni and Otter Athletics employees Meredith Kelly, Ryan Tiscareno, Amanda Jennings, John Ogden and Courtney Materazzi.
Alumni and Otter Athletics employees from left to right: Courtney Materazzi, Amanda Jennings, John Ogden, Ryan Tiscareno and Meredith Kelly.

By Kevin Gilmore

Thomas Wolfe famously wrote the novel “You Can’t Go Home Again.” While that may be true for the character George Webber and his return to rural North Carolina, Cal State Monterey Bay often welcomes back former Otters with open arms. Nowhere has that been more true than within the Otter Athletics program, where five CSUMB alumni have found homes and careers as Otters.

The entire Otter Sports Medicine Staff — Amanda Jennings (Class of 2015), Ryan Tiscareno (’16) and John Ogden (’17) — earned their undergrad degrees in kinesiology from CSUMB. Head Volleyball Coach Courtney (Taubert) Materazzi (’08) earned her degree in liberal arts. Athletics Coordinator Meredith Kelly (’20) graduated with her degree in psychology. Three of them also were standout student–athletes. Jennings was a record-setting goalkeeper for the water polo team, Materazzi was an outstanding student-athlete hitter for the volleyball team, and Kelly was a shutdown defender for the soccer team.

We recently sat down with them to discuss what brought them back to campus and if it is indeed possible to come home to CSUMB.

Read the full story in CSUMB Magazine