2010 Coaching Staff

Head Coach Jim Routhier

Routhier will begin his second season as the Maple Leafs head coach in 2010 after leading them to their first ever Mid-Central College Conference Tournament Championship game in 2009.  In his first season, the Leafs compiled a 17-16 mark and earned the right to host an MCC Tournament match for just the second time in program history.

Prior to coming to Goshen, Routhier spent 22 seasons at the helm of Concord High School (Elkhart, Ind.).  He compiled an incredible record of 472-179 while leading the Minutemen to four Northern Lakes Conference Championships, two section championships and one Indiana State Elite Eight appearance.

As a high school coach, Routhier has sent more than 50 of his former players on to play college ball at all levels, including the likes of Ohio State and Indiana. A former college player himself, Routhier played under volleyball icon Don Shondell at Ball State University.

Also a science teacher and assistant athletic trainer at Concord, Routhier retired in the spring of 2010.  He was a recipient of the NLC Service Award for his work as a coach and in starting Concord’s Athletic Training Program.  During his tenure, Routhier was also named the NLC Coach of the Year on three occasions.

“I am extremely happy to have Jim as a Maple Leaf and to have him continue to build our volleyball program into a National caliber program,” said Demant. “The program has come a long way under the leadership of Coach (Jewel) Lehman and we believe Jim’s energy, commitment to excellence on and off the court, and ability to recruit and train top players will help us continue that improvement.”

Assistant Coach Jen Higley

A former high school player under Routhier, Jen Higley will begin her second season on the Maple Leafs sideline in 2010.

A three-time all conference setter at Concord, Higley helped her Minuteman team to the state quarterfinals. She then went on to be a two-time all conference selection at MCC foe Taylor University and graduated in 2000 with a degree in elementary education.

While at Taylor, Higley posted the single-season record for assists with 2,037 in 2002 and was twice named to the all region team. She also earned NAIA All American Honorable Mention honors twice and finished her career ranked third on the program’s all-time assists list with 5,122.

Following her playing days at Taylor, Higley served one year as a student assistant for the Trojans.  She has coached a variety of high school and club programs including the Shank You Volleyball Club, Momentum, and Terra Houte High School.

Currently a fifth grade teacher with Concord Community Schools, Jen has been married to husband David for three years.  David is finishing up his teaching degree at Western Michigan and also coaches football.  The couple has one daughter, Lilly, who is two years old.