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JOhn S.

John Schmidt

John Schmidt was named the new head volleyball coach at the University of West Alabama on April 11, 2022.

A veteran in the collegiate volleyball ranks, Schmidt brings over 20 years of college coaching to West Alabama, including head coach and assistant coach experiences in NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NAIA. As a known technical trainer to the sport, he has coached volleyball student-athletes to over 80 postseason athletic honors and many more academically. During non-building seasons, his teams have finished either first or second in 11 of 13 conference seasons.
 
Schmidt is a proven winning volleyball coach with a remodeled approach to the game. A decade plus in the making, his student-first coaching philosophy centers around a three-dimensional concept accentuating positive and trusting relationships emphasizing the ‘Body’ (physical needs), ‘Mind’ (sports psychology) and ‘Spirit’ (heart).
 
This resurgence has equated to 11 winning seasons, multiple conference championships, NCAA DI and NAIA National Tournament appearance and athletes’ successes on and off the court include a 70 percent winning percentage in conference play, seven postseason appearances, runner-up finishes in 2021 KJCAA and NJCAA national rankings (twice in top 10 and as high as third).
 
Schmidt and his teams won the 2020-21 KJCAA Championship and the 2019 RSC Championship, while he took home Coach of the Year honors on the way to an NAIA National Tournament berth. He played a role in winning the 2015 OVC Championship which included an NCAA Tournament berth and was 2014 OVC Runner-up.
 
In five club seasons he has led various teams to a pair of national qualifier championships and four junior national berths.
 
Coaching stops for Schmidt include Seward County (Kan.) Community College, Brescia (Ky.) University and Belmont (Tenn.) University. He also has experience with the Willowbrook Volleyball Club and the Nebraska Volleyball Academy.
 
A stalwart in community outreach and volunteering opportunities, Schmidt has worked with the Special Olympics, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, as well as elementary outreach programs, leadership and student ministries and volleyball activities with youth groups.
 
He is a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association and United States of America for Volleyball.
 
Schmidt earned with Bachelor of Arts from Texas State University in mass communications with a minor in exercise and sports science.