Mark Wimberley joined Lenoir-Rhyne University in January 2020, he serves as both the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Bears. His impact has been significant, contributing to an overall record of 116 wins and 47 losses as of the 2025 season, resulting in a winning percentage of .712 — the highest six-year average in the program's history.
In 2025 the Bears finished with a 23-8 record and their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. This marked the first time in program history Lenoir-Rhyne volleyball has advanced to three straight NCAA Tournaments. Barringer became just the third coach in program history to win a NCAA Tournament game when the Bears defeated Lander 3-1 in the opening round. This year's squad set a new program record with 13 victories at home, going 13-1 inside the 'Shu. They finished ranked in the Lenoir-Rhyne all-time top ten in five categories and set a school record with an average of 2.09 service aces/set. Five Bears were named to the All-Conference team while Averie Dale, Kayli Cleaver, and Hadley Prince were AVCA Honorable Mention All-Americans.
The 2024 season was one for the books, as Barringer led the Bears to a 25-7 record and the team's seventh NCAA Tournament in school history. Their .781 winning percentage set a new school record and the 25 wins were the third most all-time in Lenoir-Rhyne Volleyball history. The team set a new program record with 13 consecutive wins to start the season and won 19 of their first 20 games. Four Bears were named to the SAC All-Conference team while Averie Dale and Kaylie Cleaver were both named to the All-Southeast Region Team and AVCA All-American team.
In the 2023 season, Emmaleigh Allen and Kathy Peter both received All-American and All-Region honors. Their achievements mark a significant milestone as the third pair in LR Volleyball history to earn All-Region recognition in the same season, following Taylor Prall and Rachel Bewick in 2021. The team also secured their sixth NCAA Division II Tournament berth, further showcasing their competitiveness.
During the 2022 season, the Bears continued to thrive with a .722 winning percentage, finishing second in the western division with an 18-9 overall record and a conference record of 13-5. Emmaleigh Allen was named the South Atlantic Conference Freshman of the Year, while transfer Emma Clark earned Second Team All-SAC honors, alongside Colette Romp and Ashley Hawkins.
In his second year, Wimberley was promoted from assistant to interim head coach, leading the Bears to a remarkable 2021 season. Exceeding preseason expectations, the team finished with a 24-8 record (14-4 in the South Atlantic Conference), won the SAC Tournament Title for only the second time in program history, and secured the No. 1 seed in the Southeast Region of the NCAA Tournament, ultimately advancing to the Sweet 16. His coaching not only facilitated team success but also led to individual honors, such as the AVCA Regional Player of the Year for Taylor Prall and AVCA All-American accolades for both Prall and Rachel Bewick. Bewick was also recognized as the National Player of the Week during Wimberley’s tenure. Additionally, Wimberley prioritizes academic excellence, as demonstrated by the team’s collective GPA of 3.76 in the 2021 season.
Before arriving at Lenoir-Rhyne, Wimberley spent nine years as the assistant coach for Catawba Valley Community College’s volleyball program, where he was honored as the AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year for Two-Year Colleges in 2018. In his last eight years at CVCC, Wimberley’s team went undefeated in conference and regional play with a record of 189-0.
While at the Junior College level Coach Wimberley’s team had an overall .827 winning percentage, along with eight consecutive Conference Championships and five District Championships.
In addition to his coaching achievements, Wimberley has a diverse background, having served 28 years with the North Carolina Forest Service after earning an associate degree in forestry from Wayne Community College. He lives in Lincolnton with his wife, Carla, and cherishes time spent with their children—daughters Marie and Cara, son Joe—as well as his role as “Pop” to his grandchildren Callie, Mabry, Briley, Nora, Archer, and Brixton.
