Sharing time between the pulpit and the sideline is nothing new for Jamie Cameron.

It’s encouraged by Cameron’s parish, the First Baptist Church of Clarks Grove.

“Something that I love about the church is they’re very supportive of work in the community, whether it’s Clarks Grove or Albert Lea,” Cameron said. “They said, ‘We want you to use your gifts and your talents.’”

Since 2004, Cameron has served the Clarks Grove congregation, and he has coached in Albert Lea’s volleyball program for the last eight years.

After Lisa Deyak stepped down as the Tigers varsity volleyball head coach, Albert Lea Athletic Director Afton Wacholz hired Cameron.

“It’s a very smooth transition,” she said. “He has a lot of passion and knowledge of the game. Those two things right there are huge assets, and he has a great attitude.”

Cameron has experience on the court at each position, but he prefers to be a right-side hitter.

“I’ve always been playing in leagues from the time I was 18 because I love to play,” he said.

Cameron’s journey with the Tigers began with two years as a B-squad coach followed by six years of coaching the eighth-grade team. He also started Team Club Volleyball, which is a member of USA Volleyball and helps players develop during the winter.

TCV is not only for volleyball players from Albert Lea. The goal of the club is to increase the level of play in south central Minnesota and northern Iowa, Cameron said.

Now that Cameron took the varsity position, his daughter, Krystina Cameron, took over as director for TCV and is on the high school staff. Other coaches on Cameron’s staff include Ruth DeHaan and Cathy Baumann, a former head coach at Westbrook-Walnut Grove.

The best part of coaching is helping players improve, Cameron said.

“Seeing where they start and where they end is rewarding,” he said. “It goes beyond volleyball and into the workplace when they realize that hard work pays off.”

In preparation to serve First Baptist Church, Cameron said he graduated from Judson University in Elgin, Illinois, and received his Master of Divinity degree from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, Illinois.

After spending time as a youth pastor and camp director, Cameron was hired at First Baptist Church.

“I applied and was interviewed, and we figured it was a great match,” he said.

Along with his pastoral and coaching duties, Cameron said he enjoys riding his ’94 Honda Shadow 1100 and playing paintball. He said he also used to race all-terrain vehicles.

“I come from a family with five boys,” Cameron said. “We’d do anything adventurous.”

Tryouts for the Albert Lea volleyball team began Monday. The Tigers will look to improve on last season’s 6-19 record. Two years ago, Albert Lea was 15-10. The Tigers will start the season at 7 p.m. Aug. 27 at Chaska.

“I’m excited to get started, and I’m looking forward to the season,” Cameron said.

Jamie Cameron

Age: 51

Address: Clarks Grove (P.O. Box)

Livelihood: pastor at First Baptist Church in Clarks Grove

Immediate family: wife, Kathleen; daughters Kymberly, 27, and Krystina, 25

Interesting fact: Cameron enjoys paintball and runs a paintball camp in Dayton, Iowa.