Rick Patrick: Greene Publishing, Inc.
This Fall, there will be new faces on the side of the courts at Madison County High School (MCHS) during the volleyball season. However, the faces will not be new to Madison County. Jimbo and Jessica Ratliff will take the reigns as the new volleyball coaches for MCHS. Jimbo will primarily coach the varsity team, and Jessica will primarily coach the junior varsity team. Both coaches will assist the other.
Both Jimbo and Jessica were athletes while students at MCHS. Jimbo played baseball while Jessica played both softball and volleyball. “The game is much more fast-paced than when I played,” said Jessica. “It's much more exciting.”
Jimbo works for the Parks and Recreation Department for the City of Madison. Jessica owns a local t-shirt shop “Sweet T's and More” and home schools the couple's two children. The couple also serve as Youth Ministers at St. John's Missionary Baptist Church in Greenville.
“[We] are looking forward to having fun and having a good season,” said Jessica. “[It is a] huge opportunity to minister to kids and have an impact on their lives.”
The MCHS volleyball season begins on Tuesday, Aug. 22 with a home match against Suwannee County High School. The junior varsity match is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. The varsity match is scheduled to get underway at 6 p.m. Both matches will take place in the MCHS gymnasium.