A radio frequency coil assembly (32) for magnetic resonance imaging includes a coil array portion (60, 60', 88) and a TEM coil portion (62, 62'). The coil array portion includes a plurality of decoupled coil loops (70, 70', 90). The TEM coil portion includes a plurality of rods (72, 72') coupled with a radio frequency screen (34, 34'). Each rod of the TEM coil portion is electromagnetically orthogonal to a corresponding coil loop of the coil array portion.