Palmer High graduate named Moose volleyball head coach

PALMER — Earlier this year, former Palmer High School volleyball head coach Steve Reynolds stepped away after 15 years in the position, a tenure as a head coach that’s hard to match.

But as it turns out, his successor has been a part of the Palmer volleyball program just about as long as Reynolds.

Jayme DeHart, a former Palmer player and longtime assistant coach, has been named the head coach of the Palmer volleyball program. DeHart, a 2004 graduate of Palmer High, has been with the team as an assistant for the past nine seasons.

“Right out of high school, I stuck around to help out,” DeHart said. “I was around, and just wanted to find some way to help.”

In one way or another, DeHart has been with Reynolds through his successful tenure as head coach, a run that included 241 wins, 14 state tournament appearances, 11 trips to the Northern Lights Conference championship match and six region titles. DeHart, a former standout setter, was on the floor as a player in 2003 during Palmer’s run to the first region title of the Reynolds era.

“He and I have helped Palmer win each region title, first as a player and as an assistant coach,” DeHart said. “That’s pretty cool.”

DeHart said she’s long considered a future as a high school varsity head coach, and hoped it would be at her alma mater.

“I couldn’t really imagine coaching anywhere else,” she said. “It’s where I played, where I learned to be a head coach. It makes the most sense for me to be at Palmer.”

DeHart said Reynolds helped get her to the point to be a head coach.

“I learned just about everything from Steve. Between Steve and a couple of other coaches in the program, I learned everything from skills to being a good leader,” DeHart said. “Steve’s a very good leader. His coaching skills set him apart.”

DeHart said Reynolds will continue to be a part of the Palmer volleyball program as an assistant.

“I think it will be awesome,” she said of Reynolds. “Essentially we’ll be switching roles.”

DeHart said Tiffany Secoy and Alicia Johnson will also be on he coaching staff. Both Secoy and Johnson are Palmer graduates and former PHS volleyball players.

Once Reynolds made his resignation official, DeHart said she immediately wanted to apply for the position. Palmer High activities director Dale Ewart said DeHart’s longtime commitment to the program made her a great candidate.

“She’s going to do a great job. She’s put the time in the program,” Ewart said. “She bleeds Palmer blue.”

Reynolds said he also expects DeHart to do good things as a head coach.

“She’s excited. I’m excited for her,” Reynolds said recently. “She’s got that winning attitude.”

That winning attitude is something Reynolds has seen from DeHart since she was a player.

“She comes with that winning mindset. There’s something to that,” Reynolds said.

Since DeHart first hit the hardwood as a youth player in the Palmer area, she has immersed herself in the sport. In addition to her work with Palmer High, she’s also a club volleyball coach with Alaska Volleyball Association. She even has her own volleyball-themed website, straightfromdehart.com, and has an Etsy store online, “My Little Athlete,” where she sells volleyball related merchandise.

“It’s pretty much all I do in my life, outside of my family,” DeHart said of volleyball.