LOGAN, Utah – Utah State University Vice President and Director of Athletics Cameron Walker announced Keith Smith as the next head volleyball coach at Utah State on Saturday.
 
Smith brings extensive experience working within the USA Volleyball pipeline and most recently served as an assistant coach at TCU in 2025, helping guide the Horned Frogs to a 21-11 record and a win in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. TCU appeared in every AVCA poll during the season and finished the 2025 campaign ranked No. 9, marking the first top-10 ranking in program history. The Horned Frogs also recorded a program-best six victories over top-25 opponents.
 
"I'm excited to welcome Keith to Utah State as our new head volleyball coach," said Walker. "He's a proven recruiter with a strong track record of developing players. From the start of the hiring process, his professionalism and expertise were evident, and his attributes and vision aligned with those of our volleyball student-athletes, making him the ideal choice to advance Utah State volleyball. His background with USA Volleyball will be invaluable as the program works to reach the next level."
 
Before the 2025 season, Smith served as an assistant coach for the women's U21 national team at the 2025 NORCECA Pan American Cup, helping Team USA capture a gold medal in Costa Rica. The team swept all five matches en route to the championship.
 
"I am grateful to USU Vice President and Director of Athletics Cameron Walker and the search committee for trusting me with the opportunity to continue Utah State volleyball's rich history," said Smith. "My goal is not to rebuild the program, but to retool it for long-term, sustainable success that keeps it on an upward trajectory."
 
At Auburn, Smith spent three seasons (2022–24) as an assistant coach. The Tigers posted back-to-back 20-win seasons, including a modern program-record 22 victories in 2022, and earned back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2022 and 2023 for the first time in school history. Auburn recorded six top-25 wins during his tenure, matching the program's combined total from the previous 15 seasons. In 2023, the Tigers also made their first-ever appearance in the AVCA Poll.
 
Working primarily with the setters, Smith helped elevate Auburn's offensive production. Jackie Barrett became the sixth setter in program history to reach 1,000 assists in a season, achieving the milestone in 2022 while earning SEC Setter of the Week honors twice. Barrett again surpassed 1,000 assists in 2023 and guided the Tigers to a .241 hitting percentage, the third-best in program history.
 
Smith also played a key role in planning and conducting daily practices, including skill development, game strategy, and preparing scouting reports.

"My philosophy and core values focus on putting people and connections first while maintaining the standards and discipline that lead to excellence," Smith added. "Success begins with the daily decisions we make to build winning habits. I'm excited to bring a highly competitive staff to Logan and develop a roster that will chase championships in the new Pac-12 and wins in the NCAA Tournament."
 
Before Auburn, Smith served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Grand Canyon, helping the men's program emerge as a national contender. The Lopes recorded 19 wins over top-15 opponents, including a straight-set upset of No. 1 BYU in 2021, climbed as high as No. 6 in the AVCA Poll and produced five All-Americans.
 
An accomplished recruiter, Smith helped GCU secure the nation's No. 8-ranked signing class in 2021, highlighted by 10 of the top 50 recruits nationally. His work earned national recognition as a 2021 AVCA 30 Under 30 award winner, honoring the top coaches in the country under the age of 30.
 
As an assistant coach at Providence in 2017, he helped the team earn its first winning season in 10 years and its most conference wins since it rejoined the Big East. 
 
In seven years with USA Volleyball, Smith has worked with the National Team Development Program, including the women's U21 national team in 2025 and as an assistant coach for the men's national team at the 2021 NORCECA Championships, where Team USA finished fifth.
 
During his collegiate career, Smith was a setter at Grand Canyon, finishing with a school record 4,484 career assists. He totaled 1,294 assists in 2013, ranking 10th all-time in NCAA history during the 25-point scoring era.
 
After college, Smith played professionally with Orion TopVolley in the Netherlands, helping the team finish in the top four in the regular season, playoffs and national club tournament.

He earned a bachelor's degree in sports management and a master's degree in business administration from Grand Canyon University.
 
Smith and his wife, Kierstin, have one son, Theodore.