Lamar-Renee Bryant, the junior varsity volleyball coach at Phoenix Xavier Preparatory for the last eight seasons, has been named head varsity coach at the school.

Bryant, who has a 121-7 career record with the JV, replaces Tim McHale, who resigned after the 2012 season to spend more time with his family. McHale was at Xavier for nearly 20 years, winning state titles in six of his 12 seasons as varsity coach, and led the Gators to a Division I state runner-up finish last fall.

Bryant earned numerous honors in three varsity volleyball seasons at Tempe Corona del Sol, and was a starting player for the school’s state championship team in 1993.

She began her college career at the University of Memphis, then transferred to Morgan State in Baltimore, Md. after her freshman year. She was a two-time All-Academic conference selection and earned the Arthur Ashe Jr. Scholars Award in 1999 in recognition of her academics, athletics and community activism.

She graduated cum laude from Morgan State and earned a Master’s of Science degree in sports marketing from Miami (Ohio).

Bryant currently is coaching the Arizona Storm 18-Thunder Junior National Open club team.