Jason Uller Named New Volleyball Head Coach

Concordia legend Taylor Fieldsted steps in as assistant coach

Originally from Los Angeles, Calif., Jason Uller played competitive volleyball in high school and college. Now, he practices family law, but his volleyball career continues as he takes over as the new head coach of the women’s volleyball team at Dakota County Technical College.

Uller’s position as an attorney in his own law firm and his role coaching the winners of the 2009 Northern Lights East Coast Championship were not what made him the strongest candidate for the job. His experience as an outstanding two-year college athlete gave him the tools and know-how to take the Blue Knights to the next level.

Cam Stoltz, the college’s athletic coordinator, is excited about getting a head coach who understands the tremendous importance of NJCAA sports. “Jason’s background demonstrates the possibilities offered through a two-year athletic program,” Stoltz said.

Uller began playing volleyball at age 12 in a state where men’s volleyball programs are common. He began his career in Los Angeles, playing for Brentwood High School. He also played for the Los Angeles Athletic Club and the Santa Monica Beach Club. He graduated in 2004 from UCLA with a major in history and a minor in anthropology. In 2009, he graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School.

He played college-level volleyball for the Ohio State University club team and Santa Monica College varsity squad. SMC is a two-year public institution with more than 30,000 students in some 90 fields of study. As Uller’s playing career ended, his coaching career began. Returning to his old high school, he helped lead Brentwood to a runner‑up finish in the CIF-SS tournament.

While attending law school at the U of M, Uller kept a connection to the sport. He began coaching at Northern Lights Juniors and several local high schools. During his time at Northern Lights, Uller won several local and national tournaments and helped develop athletes that have gone on to play at all levels of college volleyball.

“I needed to do something I really enjoyed that didn’t involve the law, libraries or lawyer jokes,” Uller said. While he may have felt he was escaping the legal world, players and coaches have said Uller brings his argumentative side from the courtroom to volleyball games. “I’m not afraid to speak up on the court,” Uller explained, “but I think that comes more from self-confidence, not necessarily from being a lawyer.”

Uller is still on the hunt for six to 10 more players, but is confident DCTC volleyball will have a successful season. “The nimbleness of this program will allow the team to gel quickly,” he said. Uller hopes to wrap up recruiting by the end of June, well before the season starts in August.

Complementing Uller’s experience, Taylor Fieldsted is stepping in as the volleyball program’s new assistant coach. For the last decade, Fieldsted has played volleyball at the highest levels. This past fall, she completed the perfect college career at Concordia University, St. Paul. During her time at Concordia, her team had a record of 140 wins and seven losses while winning four Division II national championships. In her senior season, she made the CoSIDA/ESPN Magazine All-Academic First Team. She leads Concordia’s all-time service reception at 96.7 percent. She also earned three selections to the Northern Sun Conference All-Academic Team .

As a prep star at Lakeville North, she advanced to the state tournament each year (2004–2008). Fieldsted has been coaching in the local volleyball community since 2008 with Lakeville Juniors and more recently with the Mizuno Northern Lights JO program, one of the top clubs in the nation.

“Taylor’s expertise in coaching and playing focuses on the defense, where I’m more of an offensive and up-at-the-net player,” said Uller, emphasizing the balance offered by the coaching staff.

In addition to coaching on the court, Uller is also looking forward to helping his team excel in the classroom. “The athletic department here is strong and Taylor and I are invested in doing what we need for our team to be successful,” he said. “Our intent is to provide instruction and critical thinking that will not only make these women good volleyball players, but also great people.”

The momentum stemming from hiring Uller and Fieldsted promises to propel the program forward. Cam Stoltz pointed out that DCTC is squarely located in one of the top volleyball regions in the nation. “The framework is there for the best volleyball players in the south metro to consider the advantages of two-year college athletics,” he said. “I’m excited to see this program take off.”

For more information about Blue Knights volleyball, contact:

• Jason Uller
  Volleyball Head Coach
  651-423-8544
• Taylor Fieldsted
  Volleyball Assistant Coach
  651-423-8544