Megan Nimmo embraces her new challenge.

She was approved as Union High School’s head varsity volleyball coach by the school board last night at a stipend of $3,400.

“I wasn’t really expecting to be a head coach this soon,” said Nimmo, who is married to Laurel graduate and former NFL offensive lineman Lance Nimmo. “I’m really excited.”

Nimmo, 24, was an assistant under Terry Watters at Laurel the past two seasons and worked as a junior high coach at Butler the previous two years.

“Every time you’re around volleyball, there’s always new things you can learn,” Nimmo said. “You learn by working with other coaches, whether it’s little things or coaching strategies.”

A 2002 graduate of Butler High, Nimmo played volleyball at both Butler County Community College and Slippery Rock University, where she graduated in 2006.

Nimmo, a health/physical education teacher at Laurel High, replaces Nikki Downing, who resigned to pursue another opportunity.

Downing led Union to the playoffs and a 9-6 finish in her first season last fall. The Lady Scots lost to North Catholic in the first round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs.

“I think we have some really good players,” Nimmo said. “Cameron Lewis is a great athlete. It should be a fun year.”