Primus

PENDLETON — Jodi Primus has started in her new position as head volleyball coach of Pendleton High School.

Primus is taking over after Chelsie Speer resigned Aug. 12 from her position as health and physical education instructor as well as head girls volleyball coach. Primus has previously been head coach, from 2010-13, but was working as assistant coach last season.

“We are excited to have her on board,” said Mike Somnis, Pendleton High School athletic director. “She brings a wealth of experience and an excellent background in volleyball to the position.”

Primus graduated from PHS in 1998. High school was when her love of volleyball began, according to a press release on her hiring, and she went on to play for Blue Mountain Community College and then Eastern Oregon University. Eventually, she moved into coaching, the release said, and has held positions at Chemeketa Community College in Salem and Central High School in Independence.

In 2010, she started four seasons as head coach with PHS, and in 2012, her team went to the 5A state tournament. She returned once in 2017 to coach the junior varsity team for a season, then again during the past school year as an assistant coach. She also coached a club volleyball team for two seasons.

She’s had other coaching roles in the past 12 years, including Little League baseball and softball.

Primus is married to Umatilla County District Attorney Dan Primus. She is the mother of four, grandmother of two and is a school nurse for the InterMountain Education Service District, according to the press release.

The 2024-25 school year’s volleyball season officially started Monday, Aug. 19, but there have been voluntary workouts and training sessions throughout the summer. The first game will be Aug. 29 during a jamboree with eight other schools in the area.