In Remembrance of Brenda Bonheim

Longtime Liberty University volleyball coach Brenda Bonheim, 81, a pioneer in women’s collegiate sports at the university, passed away Monday, Sept. 14.

Bonheim spent 26 years as part of the Liberty (and Lynchburg Baptist College) athletics department, and a total of 28 years with the university. This time included her faithful service as a volleyball head coach, a women’s basketball head coach, LU’s first Senior Woman Administrator and a professor.

Along with her husband, Bob Bonheim, Brenda founded Christian Youth Ministries of Hawaii (CYMOH) in 1969.  This ministry is still in existence and is led by their son Corey Bonheim and his wife Elizabeth. 

Christian Youth Ministries of Hawaii is a summer camp focused on serving the neighborhood children around them. The camp provides overnight opportunities and assistance in service projects. Its website states that the camp has been influential in leading hundreds of young men and women to salvation in Christ. 

Throughout her coaching career, Bonheim accrued an impressive number of victories. She led the basketball team to a record of 15-5 in the first two years following the team’s inception. Overall, she finished with a 78-56 career record as the Liberty volleyball head coach.

One of the accolades ofher career as a head coach was Liberty volleyball’s two victories over the Virginia Cavaliers in 1979. The volleyball team did not beat Virginia’s team again until 2014, 35 years later. 

Because of her accomplishments as a head coach, Bonheim was inducted into the Liberty Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013, four years after the induction of her husband. 

Bonheim was also influential outside of her role as a head coach. 

In partnership with Dr. Linda Farver (women’s basketball coach from 1977-1986), she championed Liberty University’s entrance into the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women. The women’s athletic programs remained part of the association until joining Division I in 1988. 

A memorial service for Bonheim occurred Sept. 17, 2020, at Thomas Road Baptist Church. She is survived by her husband Bob Bonheim, as well as her three children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Christian Shields is a Sports Reporter.