Jean-Rene Akono was a consultant for the Cameroon women's team at the 2013 African Championship and was appointed coach of the team in July 2014, replacing Joseph Nana Eone, who took the role as Akono’s assistant. He coached Cameroon at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. As a player Akono turned out over 100 times for Cameroon and won the African Championship in 1989. He played the majority of his club volleyball in France, and also spent most of his coaching career there. Most recently, the 49-year-old coaches French women’s team of Albi in the A League.