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Courtesy of Redlands Athletics--
REDLANDS, Calif. — The University of Redlands Athletics Department is pleased to announce the appointment of
Jensen Fluellen as the Athletic Compliance and Student Success Coordinator. Fluellen's hire is made possible in part through the NCAA Pathway to Excellence Grant, a distinction that underscores both the university's commitment to student-athlete welfare and Fluellen's standing as an emerging leader in the field of collegiate athletic administration.
Fluellen brings more than nine years of progressive experience supporting student-athlete academic success at the high school and collegiate levels. Most recently, he has served as a Student-Athlete Academic Mentor at UCLA since September 2024, where he managed a caseload of more than 50 student-athletes across football and seven Olympic sports. In that role, he monitored academic progress, ensured 100% compliance with University, conference, and NCAA academic eligibility standards, and lead weekly individualized mentoring sessions designed to build student autonomy and independent learning strategies.
Prior to UCLA, Fluellen spent seven years at Verbum Dei Jesuit High School in a multifaceted role spanning Assistant Athletic Director, Director of Admissions, and Academic Faculty. There he led transcript evaluation for new and transfer student-athletes, designed high-impact recruitment presentations, championed Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles in the classroom, and delivered large-scale academic workshops for more than 700 students. He also served as a primary liaison between the Athletic Department and campus partners on academic progress and compliance benchmarks.
"We are thrilled to welcome Jensen to the University of Redlands Athletics family," said
Nikki Ayers, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics. "His depth of experience in academic compliance, student-athlete development, and NCAA operations is exceptional, and his commitment to the whole-person philosophy that defines Division III athletics aligns perfectly with our values here at Redlands. The NCAA Pathway to Excellence Grant made this position possible, and Jensen is exactly the kind of leader we envisioned when we pursued it. We look forward to the meaningful impact he will have on our student-athletes."
Between his time at Verbum Dei and UCLA, Fluellen completed a postgraduate internship at the NCAA Eligibility Center (June 2023–June 2024), gaining firsthand experience with national compliance standards and eligibility policy. He currently also serves as Junior and Senior High Team Lead at the Center of Hope, where he supervises a team of 14 staff and implements data-driven reporting systems that have produced an average of nine percent quarterly attendance growth.
Fluellen's influence extends well beyond individual campuses. He has served as a co-advisor and Emerging Leaders Seminar leader within the NCAA People of Color Engagement Group, contributed to the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and held operational leadership roles at NCAA March Madness Regional events, the Big Ten Championship, the West Coast Conference Championship, and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championship.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of La Verne and a Master of Science in Kinesiology with a concentration in Sports Management from California Baptist University. His background in liberal arts athletics—mirroring the values at the heart of Redlands' Division III mission—makes him a natural fit for a program dedicated to developing the whole student-athlete.
About the NCAA Pathway to Excellence Grant
The NCAA Pathway to Excellence Grant supports member institutions in building and sustaining positions dedicated to student-athlete academic success, compliance, and equitable opportunity. The University of Redlands is proud to be a recipient institution, reflecting its ongoing investment in the academic and personal development of its student-athletes.
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