By Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports 

Since her coaching career began Jordyn Akers had thought about being a head coach and coaching at her alma mater.

Akers got both of those things at the same time on Monday when she was announced as the head volleyball coach at Regina pending board approval. 

“It’s a great opportunity that came at a really good time,” Akers said. “It’s great for my first head coaching job to be at my alma mater, I’m pretty excited for that.”

A 2010 Regina graduate and former all-state player for the Regals, Akers takes over for Kara Kimm who stepped down after three years leading the program.

Akers becomes the second member of her family to lead the volleyball program at Regina.

Her mother Robin was the head coach at Regina from 2006 to 2009.

“When It opened this year. I thought ‘lets try it’ and I’m excited to be back at Regina,” Akers said. “Most people are pretty excited to head back to where they started. It’s definitely a happy key to the heart kind of area.”

After graduating from Regina, Akers played college volleyball for two seasons at Ellsworth Community College and for one season at Mount Mercy College.

She started her coaching career as an assistant at City High in 2013 and has spent the past three seasons as an assistant at Solon.

Solon won the Class 3A state title in 2014 in Akers’ first year as an assistant for then Solon head coach Peter Gustin.

“I have taken so much from those coaches, I feel like that last five years my volleyball knowledge has just grown immensely,” Akers said. “Being with (City High coach Craig) Pitcher my first year coaching and then getting to coach with Peter (Gustin) and my first year winning state was just huge. I thought I knew a lot and then I’ve had people feeding me all this other information. It’s just been amazing.”

Akers takes over a Regina program that is coming off its best season in three years.

Regina posted its first 20-win season since 2010, finished 22-14 last fall.

“We are pleased to have Jordyn back at Regina and excited for the future of our volleyball program,” Regina activities director Ryan O’Hern said. “As a graduate of Regina, Jordyn understands the mission, vision, and core values of our school.”

Akers is currently employed as an elementary associate at Lakeview Elementary in Solon and is working towards a degree in elementary education at the University of Iowa.