Warriors Announce Lindsey Smith as Assistant Volleyball Coach

FREMONT, Neb. – Midland University has announced the hiring of Lindsey Smith as the new assistant coach for its volleyball program. Smith brings a wealth of coaching and playing experience to the Warriors, having worked at various collegiate and club levels throughout her career.

Prior to joining Midland, Smith served as the director of volleyball operations at the University of Denver. She also has coaching experience with the Morningside University men's program, where she was an assistant coach during the 2023-24 season, and the College of Saint Mary women's program, where she was an assistant during the 2020-21 season. Beyond the collegiate level, she has been active in youth volleyball, holding coaching and administrative roles at United Volleyball Club in Fountain Valley, California; Midwest Volleyball Power in North Sioux City, South Dakota; and Great Plains Region Volleyball in Omaha, Nebraska.

"I am absolutely thrilled to have Lindsey join the program in a full-time capacity," said head volleyball coach Micah Rhodes. "It was very clear after our initial conversation that she is exactly what I am looking for in an assistant coach in all aspects. Her extensive experience in both coaching and operations, along with her background as a high-level collegiate player, will be a tremendous asset to our team and recruitment efforts as we continue to compete on a national scale. I am excited for the impact she will have on our student-athletes."

Coach Smith will work primarily with setters and the offensive systems, sharing her experiences, knowledge, and training ideas with our players. She has the ability to take our setters and offense to an elite level.

"Most importantly, Lindsey is an outstanding person who carries herself with integrity and authenticity. She values relationship-building as much as I do, and I am confident she will relate well with our players and recruits," added Coach Rhodes.

Smith had a standout playing career as a setter at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK), where she amassed nearly 5,000 assists and averaged 11.27 assists per set. She earned AVCA All-America honors in 2016 and showcased her all-around skill with 350 career kills, 139 aces, 971 digs, and 198 blocks in 441 sets played. Following her indoor career, she continued competing as a graduate student with the Southern Miss beach volleyball team.

A Nebraska native, Smith earned her bachelor's degree in sports administration from UNK and later completed a master's degree in sport coaching from the University of Southern Mississippi.

"I am honored to be joining the Midland Volleyball family! This is a program with a tradition of success both on and off the court, and I look forward to building upon that foundation. I could not be more excited to work alongside this amazing staff, work with incredibly talented student-athletes, and be a part of a program so appreciated and supported by the University and community!" Smith said.

Smith joins a Midland volleyball program that has been a perennial contender in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) and on the national stage in the NAIA. She will play a key role in player development, recruiting, and overall program success.