Long Beach State University Athletics
Photo by: John Fajardo
McKay Smith Hired as Assistant Coach for LBSU Men’s Volleyball
7/11/2019 2:32:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
Smith spent the last two seasons as the team’s volunteer assistant coach
LONG BEACH, Calif. – After spending the last two seasons as a volunteer assistant for the Long Beach State Men's Volleyball program and helping the Beach capture back-to-back NCAA National Championships, McKay Smith has been elevated to assistant coach at LBSU. Head coach Alan Knipe made the announcement Thursday afternoon.
"I'm excited about the hire," Knipe said. "McKay follows a really good pattern we've been using with our assistant coaches and that is former players, former captains, current coaches at the junior level, and has been on staff as a volunteer. All of that leads to understanding our program, our department, and most importantly, our culture which makes us unique.
"As a player, McKay was a captain and a big part in developing the culture we have today. As a volunteer, he has been a big piece of the puzzle of the success we've enjoyed. He's had a lot of success at the juniors level coaching and at the junior college level. We feel he'll make a big impact in a full-time position for our program."
A former Long Beach State and professional volleyball player, Smith has been an integral part of the team's success since returning to his alma mater in 2017. In the last two years, the Beach have put together a 56-3 overall record and are in the midst of a program-record 43-match home winning streak. With Smith on the bench, Long Beach State went undefeated in Big West Conference action in 2019 en route to capturing the program's second-straight regular season conference title.
Smith has worked closely with half a dozen AVCA All-Americans, six Big West Conference selections, two AVCA National Players of the Year, and a pair of Big West Conference Players of the Year.
In addition to lending his assistance on the court with player development, Smith also supervises all team strength and conditioning sessions in the weight room.
A decorated coach with several years of experience at the collegiate level as well as at Junior Nationals, Smith previously served as an assistant coach and strength coordinator for the 2017 State Champion Orange Coast College men's volleyball team. With Smith's guidance, the Pirates finished the season with a 21-1 record and were a perfect 8-0 in conference.
Smith previously played for Orange Coast College when he was named 2011 Conference MVP and was first in the state in hitting percentage. He went on to enjoy a three-year career at Long Beach State where he excelled at middle blocker and was named team captain.
"I am beyond grateful and unbelievably excited for the opportunity to continue working with this staff in a full-time position," Smith said. "This program has provided so much for me as a student-athlete and for the past two seasons as a volunteer assistant. It is only fitting that I now have the chance to give every ounce of my time and energy back towards the future success of this program.
"A huge thank you to Alan Knipe, (Senior Associate Athletics Director and sport supervisor) Mark Edrington, and (Director of Athletics) Andy Fee for putting their trust in me to help this program grow. I cannot wait to get to work. Go Beach!"
Following his collegiate career, Smith went on to play professionally for SKV Havirov in the Czech Republic from 2014-15.
Additionally, Smith won two gold medals as an assistant coach, as well as three bronze medals as a head coach for the 949 Volleyball Club at Junior Nationals.
"I'm excited about the hire," Knipe said. "McKay follows a really good pattern we've been using with our assistant coaches and that is former players, former captains, current coaches at the junior level, and has been on staff as a volunteer. All of that leads to understanding our program, our department, and most importantly, our culture which makes us unique.
"As a player, McKay was a captain and a big part in developing the culture we have today. As a volunteer, he has been a big piece of the puzzle of the success we've enjoyed. He's had a lot of success at the juniors level coaching and at the junior college level. We feel he'll make a big impact in a full-time position for our program."
A former Long Beach State and professional volleyball player, Smith has been an integral part of the team's success since returning to his alma mater in 2017. In the last two years, the Beach have put together a 56-3 overall record and are in the midst of a program-record 43-match home winning streak. With Smith on the bench, Long Beach State went undefeated in Big West Conference action in 2019 en route to capturing the program's second-straight regular season conference title.
Smith has worked closely with half a dozen AVCA All-Americans, six Big West Conference selections, two AVCA National Players of the Year, and a pair of Big West Conference Players of the Year.
In addition to lending his assistance on the court with player development, Smith also supervises all team strength and conditioning sessions in the weight room.
A decorated coach with several years of experience at the collegiate level as well as at Junior Nationals, Smith previously served as an assistant coach and strength coordinator for the 2017 State Champion Orange Coast College men's volleyball team. With Smith's guidance, the Pirates finished the season with a 21-1 record and were a perfect 8-0 in conference.
Smith previously played for Orange Coast College when he was named 2011 Conference MVP and was first in the state in hitting percentage. He went on to enjoy a three-year career at Long Beach State where he excelled at middle blocker and was named team captain.
"I am beyond grateful and unbelievably excited for the opportunity to continue working with this staff in a full-time position," Smith said. "This program has provided so much for me as a student-athlete and for the past two seasons as a volunteer assistant. It is only fitting that I now have the chance to give every ounce of my time and energy back towards the future success of this program.
"A huge thank you to Alan Knipe, (Senior Associate Athletics Director and sport supervisor) Mark Edrington, and (Director of Athletics) Andy Fee for putting their trust in me to help this program grow. I cannot wait to get to work. Go Beach!"
Following his collegiate career, Smith went on to play professionally for SKV Havirov in the Czech Republic from 2014-15.
Additionally, Smith won two gold medals as an assistant coach, as well as three bronze medals as a head coach for the 949 Volleyball Club at Junior Nationals.
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