Posted: 01/17/2013 | Last updated: January 17, 2013 at 10:14 AM
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Head coach Bob Bertucci has announced that former Bucknell assistant Caitlin Rimgaila will assume the role as assistant coach on his 2013 Lehigh staff. Rimgaila comes to Lehigh after spending the 2012 season as an assistant coach on the Bison bench.
"We’re very excited about her addition to our staff and the circumstances worked out perfectly for her to join us," said head coach Bob Bertucci. "She really understands the Patriot League and the mix between academics and athletics in order to make our student-athletes successful here at Lehigh."
While serving as the newest addition to the Lehigh coaching staff, Rimgaila will also be pursuing a master’s in Educational Leadership at Lehigh.
A 2007 St. John’s University graduate with a degree in Communication Science and a minor in Business Administration, Rimgaila earned All-Big East selections with the Red Storm and captained an undefeated conference run for St. John’s during the 2006 campaign. That season, the Red Storm garnered national attention, ranking in the top-25 for the first time in program history. Also during that season, Rimgaila was named as a second team All-Big East selection.
She was also awarded for her academic accolades while at St. John’s, earning the honor of 2006 Big East/Aeropostale Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. In addition, she was a three-time Big East Academic All-Star and a Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society for student-athletes selection.
As a senior, Rimgaila was selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team and was also a co-founder of STAR (Students Teaching Athletes Responsibility) at St. John’s.
Prior to joining Bucknell’s staff, she had coached at Pope John Paul II High School, located in Royersford, Pa. There, she led the team to a top-10 state ranking.
"She has a great knowledge and experience in volleyball which is going to add a plus in our recruiting," said Bertucci. "That will help us reach the next level as a team."
Previous coaching experience also includes the head coach at Pope John Paul II, the Synergy Volleyball Club and Philadelphia Volleyball Academy. She has had stints as an assistant at The Agnes Irwin School (Pa.) and SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology.