Smith Named Head Volleyball Coach

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Smith Named Head Volleyball Coach

Courtesy of Media Services

Nicole Smith

Courtesy of
Media Services

The University of Arkansas at Monticello has selected Nicole Smith to be the first head coach of the new Cotton Blossoms volleyball program. Smith joins UAM after spending the last year as head volleyball coach at Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas. In addition to her duties as head volleyball coach, Smith will also serve as UAM's Senior Woman Administrator for athletics.

"We are glad to have a coach of the caliber of Nicole Smith to start our program," said UAM Director of Athletics Alvy Early. "She has the experience and the recruiting contacts that are necessary to be successful in this league. Nicole is a proven winner who is very driven, and we are confident that she will be able to establish a competitive program in a short period of time.

"We didn't want to rush into making this decision," Early said. "We waited for the right candidate to come along with the proper combination of experience and past success, and Nicole Smith fit the mold of what we wanted in a coach."

Prior to her time at Hill, Smith served as the Head Volleyball coach at Blinn College from 1998-2003, qualifying for the NJCAA Region XIV Tournament every season during her tenure.

   Over the past three seasons, Smith has coached eight all-conference players, 10 all-region players, and in 2002, led Blinn College to a runner-up finish in the District G Region XIV National Qualifier Tournament.

   Smith also served as an assistant volleyball coach at Lee College from 1994-95, and at Francis Marion University in 1993. Smith's first head coaching experience came at the club level, as she guided the Lake Houston Club squad in 1994-95, the Texas A&M Club squad in 1996, and the Hurricane Club Volleyball Association team in 1996-97.

   Smith played two years at Lee College before transferring to Francis Marion, where she graduated in 1994 with a bachelor of science degree in political science.

"I am excited about starting the UAM volleyball program," said Smith. "The teams in the Gulf South Conference compete at a high level, and our program will be a great introduction to intercollegiate volleyball for the people here in southeast Arkansas that have never seen a match played."

"The University of Arkansas at Monticello is committed to increasing educational opportunities for women through our athletics program," said UAM Chancellor Jack Lassiter. "The addition of women's volleyball to our campus will provide not only several new scholarships for female athletes, but will also provide our community with the chance to experience an exciting sport that is continually growing in popularity on the state and national level."

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© The Voice 2005
Revised 09/17/2007 01:46:45 PM — http://www.uamont.edu/Organizations/TheVoice/3_1/volleycoach.html