BLUEFIELD, VA – Bluefield University Director of Athletics Tonia Walker is pleased to announce the hiring of Rodney Kasey as the new manager of Bluefield University’s Herb Sims Wellness Center. Kasey is currently the Director of Athletics/Membership Marketing Coordinator for the City of Bluefield, West Virginia Parks, and Recreation Department and head assistant coach for the Bluefield State University men’s basketball team. He will assume his new position with Bluefield University on September 16.
As a facility manager, Kasey will oversee all aspects of operational planning and day-to-day management of the Herb Sims Wellness Center for athletic events, special events sponsored by the Department of Athletics, and events for Bluefield University students and the community. The Center’s fitness area, open to all Bluefield University students and the campus community, will also be overseen by Kasey.
In addition to serving as the manager of the Center, Kasey will serve as the strength and conditioning coach for Bluefield University’s Department of Athletics. He will direct the oversight, development, and management of individual and group strength and conditioning programs for all Bluefield University student-athletes participating in the University’s 17-sport athletics program, part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division I and the Appalachian Athletic Conference as well as the Mid-South Conference for football and men’s volleyball. This position assists in reducing student-athlete injuries, thus lowering medical expenses.
Kasey played for the Bluefield University Rams Basketball team during his undergraduate years at Bluefield University. During that time, he won awards such as Most Improved and RAM EFFORT. Kasey also received AAC conference honors on the All-Academic Team and Champions of Character. He went on to be the Director of Basketball Operations at Bluefield University under Coach Richard Morgan.
Kasey received his bachelor’s degree in sport management from Bluefield University in 2015, and a master’s degree in sports administration from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia in December of 2016. He is married to Bluefield University alumna Rebecca Havens Kasey (‘17). They currently reside in Bluefield, West Virginia.
“I am very excited to be back at my alma mater and for the opportunity to pour into our athletes as well as the community. I want to thank both the City of Bluefield and Bluefield State University for the past three years and the many wonderful opportunities they provided for which I am grateful,” said Kasey.
Bluefield University assumed occupancy of the Herb Sims Wellness Center through a partnership with the City of Bluefield, West Virginia, on August 1 of this year and positioned this strategic hire to satisfy multiple needs of the University. The Center is named for the beloved, former Parks and Recreation Director Herb Sims who dedicated his career and life to enhancing the lives of many youths in the greater Bluefield area.