Coach Audrey Norman onf left and Assistant Coach Allison Sekura at Media Day for Fall Middle School Soccer.(Photo submitted)

Evensville, TN -- Earlier this month, Audrey Norman was named as head coach for the Rhea County Middle School Soccer coach. Norman has coached from the roots of soccer with Rhea County Community Center and has also coached RC3 Travel Soccer as well as Rhea County Middle School Girls Soccer. Allison Sekura will be serving as assistant coach for Norman. Mark Palmer will be coachingwith the team as goalkeep coach."

"I have had the pleasure to watch Audrey grow as a coach in game strategy, but the thing she brought from her early years was an enthusiasm and infectious joy that sucercedes her knowledge. Norman is not only animated on the sidelines but in the stands and in life. She adds to the wonderful assortment of coaches at all sports in Rhea County. Rhea is fortunate to have these people, who help mold students lives and habits."

"Allison Sekura has been come back to give back to the game after playing at Rhea County High School very well during her high school years. She is one of several new coaches who it seemed like only yesterday were playing for Rhea County and now are coaching. Thanks to all the next generation, who help keep the Rhea County experience excellent"

In a statement from Norman, she offered her thoughts on receiving the position.

"It is with great pleasure that I was offered and accepted the job as Head Coach of Boys' Soccer Coach for this coming season at Rhea Middle School, and that Coach Allison Sekura is going to be there with me as my Assistant Coach as well. Coach Allison has fit in flawlessly with our girls' soccer program, not only with me, but with the girls as well. So, I am very excited that we were both asked to continue our partnership with the boys' program as well.  She brings a wealth of knowledge from her years of playing over the years and at the collegiate level, same as me, so it has been such a fun partnership during our time together with the girls' team. We are both so excited to continue on together with the boys' team this coming spring as well!"

"Coach Mark Palmer will also continue to be our goalie coach and pour his years of knowledge into our future generations as an Eagle as well."

"Many people may not be aware, but I actually started coaching middle school boys' select travel soccer through RC3 with Coach Palmer when my oldest sons were in 5th grade, and I loved every minute of it! It's where I truly fell in love with coaching competitive soccer at the middle school level, and the Rc3 Bandits' boys and families are forever imprinted on my heart and soul! We created a family unit with everyone, and to this day, the boys and their families are a part of my life, forever my babies and part of my bear hugs!"

"We created a team bonded together through our 3 years of select travel Bandit years together, and that group of boys went on to bring RMS their first every championship in 2019 with Coach Daly, which was an amazing thing to witness and be a small part of. I am truly so excited to come back to coaching this age level of boys' soccer again and to continue on what Coach Carson Ruehling has left in our hands."

"Two of my sons were both part of the 2 championships that the RMS boys' soccer program has brought home, one with Coach Daly in 2019 and then my youngest with Coach Ruehling in 2023, so this program is very special to my heart. I am absolutely thrilled to be back coaching the boy's team this year and feel absolutely honored that the school is trusting both me and Coach Allison with both the girls' and boys' soccer  teams."

"Coaching is my happy place, and I love pouring into kids, not only through the beautiful game of soccer but also into their lives as men and women, hoping to make a small impact on their lives, on and off the pitch."

"Coach Palmer has been such a mentor to me over the years and to all of the kids we have coached together. It is an absolute honor to continue coaching with the values and beliefs we have worked together over the years to instill in our players and to have Coach Allison join in with us has been an absolute blessing. She wanted a foot in the door to influence kids through coaching, and this year has just been the door flung wide open with high school Lady Eagles, and RMS girls' and boys' soccer teams, and she has stepped into it with grace, flexibility, enthusiasm, and fit in seamlessly with the staff and the teams!"

"Super thankful for her and her knowledge and leadership and love of the game and the athletes! We both can't wait to see how our girls' team competes in the fall of 2025 and then lead our boys' soccer team in the spring of 2026! What a great year to be an Eagle!" 

Gary Bolden

Editor Tennessee Community Magazine