Jim Rendle Named Head Volleyball Coach, Megan Johnston Assistant Coach

QUINCY, Mass.- Jim Rendle has been named head volleyball coach at Eastern Nazarene College, as announced by Director of Athletics Dr. Nancy Detwiler Wednesday. Megan Johnston has also been appointed assistant volleyball coach.

"Jim Rendle is one of the most outstanding volleyball professionals in New England. He has a proven record of developing skills and molding players into championship teams," said Detwiler. "The leadership learned by his students has spawned top quality people who coach volleyball at every level of the sport. His philosophy of making volleyball fun continues to span generations. We look forward to his impact on the program."

"I am thrilled to join the ENC family and excited to help continue the tradition of competitive excellence at Eastern Nazarene College," commented Rendle.

Rendle brings with him a highly-successful background and a wealth of knowledge. He is a highly-respected coach in the volleyball community as well as a highly-respected individual in the local community. Rendle was the 2011 recipient of the Friends of Wollaston Beach Friend of the Year Award. He was also recognized by the Massachusetts Secondary Schools Athletic Director Association with the 2012 President's Award of Merit for contributions to the field of athletics in Massachusetts.

He recently retired as the City of Quincy athletic director where he oversaw the athletic programs for Quincy High School and North Quincy High School.

Rendle developed the North Quincy girls' volleyball program into a championship-caliber program as he guided the Red Raiders to six Massachusetts Division I State Championships, the first coming in 1987. He was named the 1992 Boston Globe Coach of the Year.

He began coaching at North Quincy High School in 1985 and had an immediate impact as the team posted a 9-7 record in his first season after winning just two matches the previous year. In 2002, Rendle guided the Red Raiders to a 25-2 record en route to claiming the Massachusetts Division I State Championship.

Rendle is currently the director of the Mass Patriots, a Junior Olympic volleyball club based out of North Quincy, Mass., a position he has held since 2001. Rendle first joined the Mass Patriots as a coach in 1987 and is the head coach of the Mass Patriots Blue 18's squad.

He has led the Mass Patriots to the 16 and under regional championship in 1999 and to a third-place finish at the Baystate Invitational in 1999.

Rendle holds a USAV CAP level 2 coaching certification.

Johnston is a 2002 graduate of Eastern Nazarene College and was a four-year member of the volleyball team. She claimed All-Commonwealth Coast Conference first team honors as a sophomore and junior before earning second team accolades as a senior.

Johnston helped the "Crusaders" to three Commonwealth Coast Conference playoff appearances in her career. A setter on the court, Johnston recorded 2,415 assists while also registering 1,198 digs, 514 kills and 75 aces in 111 career matches.

Johnston played for Rendle at North Quincy High School prior to attending Eastern Nazarene College.

"Megan is a volleyball product of Rendle's coaching through four years of high school at North Quincy. Her collegiate years at Eastern Nazarene helped her to further develop her setting skills and a realization that volleyball can be a vital link to Christian leadership. Megan shares a philosophy that hard work is the key to success," Detwiler said.

TRANSACTIONS: Eastern Nazarene: Jim Rendle named head volleyball coach. Megan Johnston named assistant volleyball coach.