Midway, Ky. – Midway University Athletic Director, Rusty Kennedy, has announced the hiring of Jonea Rima as the new head coach for the Midway University volleyball program.
"Coach Rima is a proven winner with a track record of building strong programs," noted Kennedy. "She is unbelievably qualified and Midway University is fortunate to add her to the Eagle Family."
Rima comes to Midway after spending a season as the assistant coach at NCAA Division I University of Maryland Eastern Shore. While with the Hawks, Rima also served as the recruiting coordinator and assisted in all facets of the game.
Her most previous stint as a head coach came at Seminole State College where she spent two seasons before going to Maryland Eastern Shore. In her two seasons with Seminole State, Rima tallied a 43-40 record and in her second season, she lead the Trojans to a win improvement of 15 wins leading to a 29-13 record overall.
While serving as the head volleyball coach at Seminole State, Rima also worked with the residence life department and also served as the Club Director for the Oklahoma Bloom Volleyball Club.
Prior to taking the position at Seminole State, Rima spent a couple of years overseas to coordinate efforts for the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) in the country of Barbados.
From 2011 to 2013 she served as the Regional Volleyball Development Centre Director, Technical Director for Barbados Volleyball Association and the Coordinator for Youth Development of Volleyball for the Country of Barbados.
While in Barbados, Rima also served as a coach for four different youth and junior teams over her two years. In 2013, she led the junior boys' team to a first place finish in the Junior Caribbean Championships.
Rima's first head coaching position came in her most recent stop in the NAIA in 2003 when she was appointed the head coach at Missouri Valley College. Rima also served as the assistant men's volleyball coach during her time at Missouri Valley.
After spending two seasons at Missouri Valley, Rima found her way to the junior college ranks where she was the head coach at Clarendon College (2003-2008) and Sheridan College (2008-2011).
At Clarendon, Rima ran several aspects of the college's physical education department while coaching the school's volleyball team to numerous regional tournament appearances.
In her three years at Sheridan, she focused mainly on volleyball, but also worked as a fitness center director. While at both Clarendon and Sheridan, she maintained NJCAA standards for all sports while serving as a committee member for the NJCAA Region IX and the Texas and New Mexico Junior College Volleyball Committee.
Kennedy added, "Having worked with Jonea before, when this opportunity presented itself she was at the top of my list, I am excited for the future of the program under her leadership."
Rima is a graduate of Hendrix College in Arkansas where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education. She also holds a Master's of Science in Exercise Science that she got from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
She possesses a CAP II Level certificate from USA Volleyball and certification in Volleyball and Beach Volleyball from FIVB.
Rima will make her debut on the sidelines for Midway in late August when the Eagles head to Chicago, Illinois to compete in the Robert Morris Tournament.
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