Joe Portland was promoted to assistant coach during the spring 2022 semester after serving as a volunteer assistant coach for the Wildcats in his first year on the Main Line.
In his time at Villanova, Portland has developed a pair of all-conference selections in Kiera Booth and Abby Harrell. Portland's first full-time season on staff in 2022 saw Booth earn an All-BIG EAST and All-ECAC First Team nod after leading the 'Cats in blocks while hitting a career-best .336.
2023 marked Portland's first time leading the squad to the BIG EAST Tournament, along the way helping first-year hitter Harrell earn Villanova's third ever BIG EAST Freshman of the Year. Harrell also picked up All-BIG EAST and freshman team honors during her debut campaign, and middle blocker Booth became the sixth Wildcat to earn an all-conference nod in back-to-back seasons.
2024 saw a return to the league tournament for Portland and Villanova with VU's first round upset of UConn giving the 'Cats a 17-14 overall record and first semifinal appearance since 2019. Portland oversaw Harrell's second straight all-conference campaign, while playing a role in the development of first-year middle Campbell McKinnon's all-freshman team and all-tournament performances. Portland also served as the team's acting head coach for three matches in 2024, going 2-1 at the Yale Invitational with victories over two reigning conference champions: Colgate and Fairfield.
Originally from Reading, Pa., Portland previously spent time coaching at the University of Virginia, Misericordia University, West Chester University and Muhlenberg College.
Portland served as the volunteer assistant coach at Virginia for the 2019-20 season and the fall segment of 2020, specializing in serve receive training and serving strategy.
Portland earned a bachelor’s degree in professional studies from West Chester before completing a master’s in organizational management at Misericordia. Portland played on the West Chester men’s team and made the MACVC all-conference team during his playing career, also serving as president and vice president of the team during his tenure.
Cumulatively Portland has spent 13 years coaching at the club level for various clubs such as Synergy, Spooky Nook and X-Factor. He also spent time coaching the KRVA Region High Performance program where he served as the head coach of the youth level team and assistant coach for the team that won a silver medal in the Girls Youth Division in 2017.Â
