Jo Kremer is not one to shy away from a challenge. Her volleyball career has been defined by winning, and she approaches her latest opportunity as she has every other—with high expectations.

Born and raised in Pacific Palisades, Kremer has spent most of her life on the West Coast, but on May 30 she was named the second head coach of the University of South Florida beach volleyball program, taking over for Pri Piantadosi-Lima, who piloted the Bulls to a 21-15 record in their inaugural season.

“I felt ready to be a head coach and South Florida is in a unique position because they’re a new program and the school is really investing  in women’s sports right now,” Kremer told the Palisadian-Post. “For a first-time head coach like myself, it was too good an opportunity to pass up.” 

Kremer comes to Tampa fresh off three highly successful seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Stanford, where she shared her knowledge of the game—a passion she first developed at Sinjin Smith’s volleyball camp at Will Rogers State Beach. 

Two months ago, the Cardinal reached the NCAA finals for the first time ever, falling to UCLA in the championship match in Gulf Shores, Alabama, after accumulating a school-record 39 victories, 28 of those against ranked opponents. 

“It was a very hard decision to leave Stanford for South Florida,” said Kremer, who spent the Fourth of July weekend in Northern California packing up her things for the move across the country. “Working at Stanford was amazing for many reasons, with the team’s success being just one of them.” 

Kremer excelled indoors at St. Matthew’s and Harvard-Westlake and played libero for the indoor squad at the University of Notre Dame in 2014 before transferring to USC, where she powered the Women of Troy to three straight NCAA titles on the sand from 2015 to 2017. Kremer graduated in 2018 with a degree in communications and transitioned into coaching on the prep scene at Harvard-Westlake and Bishop Montgomery high schools and at the club level for Crescent Beach in Santa Monica, Surfside in Manhattan Beach and Better at Beach in Hermosa Beach. 

Kremer also served as a co-coach and chaperone for USA Youth Beach Volleyball during the 2022 Maccabi Games in Israel, leading her teams to seven top-four finishes. As an assistant coach at Tulane University in New Orleans in 2023 she helped the Green Wave to 24 wins—matching the program best—and a No. 17 national ranking. She married Marshall Brock in August 2024, and his family is from Florida, which was another factor in her decision.   

“We will only be about an hour away from his family,” she said. 

A Palisadian through and through, Kremer played AYSO Region 69 and Westside Breakers club soccer, YMCA and Palisades Recreation Center basketball, and Bobby Sox softball. In addition to Sinjin Smith’s camp, she played for fellow resident Cari Klein’s Sunshine Volleyball Club. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Jo and her husband to Bulls Nation,” said USF CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins. “Jo brings an incredible background as both a player and coach. She was part of three national championship teams at USC and has helped elevate programs at Stanford and Tulane to record-setting seasons and rankings among the nation’s best programs,” continued Higgins. “With a new on-campus beach volleyball facility set for completion this summer and Jo leading our program, Bulls beach volleyball is on a very exciting trajectory.”

Kremer was chosen Pac-12 Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2018. Five years later, the American Volleyball Coaches Association honored the USC alum with the 30 Under 30 Award in recognition of her accomplishments coaching at three levels of the sport—high school, cub and college.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to have the opportunity to lead the USF beach volleyball program,” added Kremer, who grew up in Marquez Knolls and attended St. Matthew’s from Mommy and Me through eighth grade. “I want to thank Rob Higgins, [Deputy Athletic Director] Lelo Prado, [Vice-President of Student-Athlete Development] Delaney Ryan and many others for giving me this opportunity. I share their vision for the future of USF Athletics, especially their belief in women’s sports and their commitment to the student-athlete experience,” continued Kremer. “I am extremely excited about the roster and look forward to supporting these unbelievable young women on and off the sand! Go Bulls!”

Stanford reached the NCAA Tournament in each of Kremer’s three seasons on staff from 2024 to 2026, winning the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title in 2025. 

“I couldn’t be happier for Jo, the University of South Florida and the student-athletes in the Bulls beach volleyball program,” said Cardinal head coach Andrew Fuller. “Jo embodies servant leadership, putting the student-athlete experience at the center of every decision and action. Through her tireless efforts at Stanford, our players felt supported in critical moments, pushed to new levels of competitiveness, and—most importantly—they have been seen and appreciated for their whole selves, on and off the sand.”

As a senior outside hitter at Harvard-Westlake in 2013, Kremer was named to the All-CIF Southern Section Division 1 team and was the Mission League’s Most Valuable Player. The following summer she made the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s first High School Beach Volleyball All-America team and partnered with Westlake High’s Julia Mannisto to earn the silver medal in the 18-and-under Gold Division at the West Coast AAU Junior Olympics in Hermosa Beach. 

“My parents did lose their home in the Palisades Fire,” Kremer said. “I haven’t been back to the Palisades yet, but my parents actually bought a new house in the Palisades and will be moving in next week, so I’ll be back there soon.”