Megan Rimer was first exposed to volleyball in fifth grade. It has been her passion ever since.
“It was the only sport I fell in love with. Something just clicked,” she said.
Rimer, who has been involved in the sport at every level from middle school to college, was named coach of the Virginia Peninsula Community College women’s team last month.
“I’m extremely excited to get started and extremely grateful for the opportunity,” she said. “It’s something that I’ve wanted for quite a long time. I love coaching.”
She played the sport all through high school and at Mars Hill University, a Division II school in North Carolina. Shortly after her son was born, in 2016, she turned to coaching.
“I think I fell in love with coaching more than I fell in love with playing,” she said. “It was just something about watching what you’re teaching these athletes click in their brains. It’s so cool watching them get excited about something that you’re so excited about.”
She has spent the past four years coaching at Hampton High School and with the VA Wave volleyball club based in Newport News. She has also coached high school volleyball at Orange High School in Charlottesville and in her home state of North Carolina. On the club scene, she has coached for the Charlottesville Area Volleyball Club and Precision Athletics Volleyball Club in North Carolina. This is her first time coaching on the college level.
VPCC Athletics Director Chris Moore said he heard great things about her.
“No. 1 is that she has a good rapport with student athletes. I got good recommendations on her behalf, saying she’s wonderful with the kids,” he said.
Her connections to the local volleyball scene are also a plus.
“She’s connected to a lot of young women in the area, and they want to play for her,” he said. “The key is finding somebody who does a good job building relationships but also somebody who is passionate and wants to be a part of our community.”
Rimer ran a recent prospect camp at the Gators’ home gym, SafeHaven Empowerment Center.
“It was a great opportunity to get in the gym and get a feel for the space,” she said.
Several prospects she knew reached out to her about playing for the Gators and attended the camp.
“They were really excited to get in the gym with me again,” Rimer said.
Her first, and most important task, is building a roster. In past years, the Gators have struggled to have more than six or seven players.
“I think we’re already on the right path of getting some really good athletes and getting our numbers up,” she said. “From there, I want to find a good amount of girls to come in and really help me start building the program to be that kind of foundation, that building block.”
Rimer, 31, lives in Gloucester with her husband and 10-year-old son.
“There’s nothing else I want to do with my life, besides being a mom, of course,” she said of coaching volleyball. “I don’t want to work any other job. I don’t want to be in any other career. This is it. This is what makes me happy. It’s the only thing that gets me up and excited to go to work. So, yeah, I’m really excited for the opportunity.”
For more information on Gators athletics, go to www.vpccgators.com.
