MINNEAPOLIS -- Jessica Rinehart has announced her resignation after spending five seasons as Augsburg College's volleyball head coach, the college announced on Wednesday. Rinehart will take over the volleyball program at Northwest Missouri State University, an NCAA Division II institution in Maryville, Mo.

“I'm extremely sad to be leaving Augsburg. I have thoroughly enjoyed my five seasons here,” Rinehart said. “I want to thank the college for the opportunity to coach at such a great institution and the administration for being so supportive. The success of the program's recent years is due to the wonderful players in the program, and I want to wish them the best of luck as they continue on their path to the top of the MIAC. I will greatly miss them.”

In her five seasons at Augsburg, Rinehart helped to bring the Auggies back into prominence in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, leading this season's Auggies to their first MIAC postseason playoff berth since the conference went to its current six-team playoff format in 2001.

“Jessica has done phenomenal work for Augsburg,” said Augsburg athletic director Jeff Swenson. “Her teams have improved every year since she has been here, culminating with a playoff berth this year. It is a great loss for Augsburg, its student-athletes and our coaching team. She has laid a strong foundation for the Augsburg College women's volleyball program, and leaves with my deep gratitude.”

Swenson announced that an aggressive search for Rinehart's replacement will begin immediately.

The Auggies showed continual improvement in both wins and quality of play throughout Rinehart's tenure, as the team's win totals in either overall or league play improved each of her five seasons. After a 6-23 finish in her first season, 2005, the Auggies finished with 11 wins in 2006, 13 wins in 2007 and 17 wins in both 2008 and 2009 -- the first back-to-back above-.500 finishes for Augsburg since the 1985-86 seasons.

Augsburg finished 17-14 overall and 6-5 in MIAC play in 2009, the team's best MIAC record since 1998. Rinehart was 64-82 in her five Augsburg seasons, including a 19-36 record in conference play. Her overall record as a head coach is 111-112.

Prior to coaching at Augsburg, Rinehart served two seasons as head coach at Morningside College, an NAIA school in Sioux City, Iowa, finishing 47-30 there. Rinehart also served as a graduate assistant coach at Division I Central Michigan (2001-02) and as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Hillsdale (Mich.), in 2000.

A native of Red Oak, Iowa, Rinehart earned her bachelor's degree from Hillsdale in 2000, and her master's degree from Central Michigan in 2004. Rinehart and her husband, Mark, have a daughter, Kaelyn, who was born on Oct. 14.