Smith Named New Head Coach of Volleyball Program

Smith Named New Head Coach of Volleyball Program

Alma, Mich. - Madison Smith '17 has been tabbed as the next head coach of the Alma College volleyball program, as announced by Director of Athletics Steven Rackley on Friday (Jan. 18).

"After an extensive search, I am proud to announce Madison Smith as our new head volleyball coach," said Rackley. " We are very excited to add Madison to the staff. Having been a product of not only Alma's program, but a top program in the country as an assistant for the last two years, we're confident that she has the knowledge and tools to succeed and take the team to the next level."

"I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Steven Rackley, Sarah Dehring, Tracy Howd, and the entire search committee for allowing me the opportunity to lead the Alma College Volleyball program," said Smith. "It is my utmost honor to return to Alma as the head volleyball coach. I am looking forward to getting started with the current student-athletes on the team to maintain the success of this program and create a championship culture for the future while holding true to the core values of Alma College Athletics."

Smith has been the lead assistant volleyball coach at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts since June 2017. She has played a major role in both coaching and recruiting, with experience analyzing game film, creating scouting reports, and devising plans for recruiting high school athletes. This past year, the Jumbos ended the season as the ninth-ranked team in the New England region according to the NCAA Regional Rankings. The program received votes for the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) national poll in both the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

In her two years as the lead assistant coach at Tufts, Smith has helped to guide four All-Conference student-athletes, including the 2018 Conference Rookie of the Year and All-New England Rookie of the Year. Smith has also presided over four players who received All-American Honorable Mentions in her two years, as well as five AVCA All-Region players. In addition, the program was honored with the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Coaching Staff of the Year award in 2017. The program was also awarded the AVCA Team Academic Award following the 2017-18 season, as 11 individual members of the program were named to the conference All-Academic team.

Smith and the Jumbos finished the 2017 season as the NESCAC runner-up. The team received an at-large bid to the national championship tournament, where it fell in the regional round. It also made an appearance in the conference tournament this past season, but dropped the match to eventual champion Bowdoin.

Smith is a 2017 graduate of Alma College and a four-year member of the volleyball program. During her time as a Scot, Smith tallied 410 kills and 188 total blocks as a middle blocker. She led the team and finished ninth in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association in hit percentage (24.2-percent). She was also named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll as a junior after majoring in Integrated Physiology and Health Sciences. Smith is currently obtaining her master's degree in Sports Leadership at Northeastern University.

An introductory press conference for Smith will be held on Monday, Jan. 28 at 1 p.m. in the Hubbard Lobby of the Hogan Center.

 

Story provided by Alma College Athletics


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