Steve Smith
Head Coach

Steve Smith is in his third season as head coach of the Fort Hays State volleyball program. Smith was named head coach in July of 2005 and is the fifth head coach in the program’s history. He guided the team in their first season as members of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association in 2006.

In 2005, Smith guided the Lady Tigers to a 16-15 overall record with a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference post-season tournament appearance.

Smith came to Fort Hays State from Western Oregon University where he served as the assistant coach for nine seasons under Judy Lovre, the school’s leader in career victories. In his span with the Wolves as an assistant, WOU went 170-122, which included four straight trips to the NAIA National Championship Tournament from 1996-99.

During his stint at Western Oregon, Smith served as a coach of many area club teams. He headed the Corvallis, Ore., No Dinx Volleyball Club from 2003-05 and the Salem, Ore., Volleyball Club from 2001-03. He also served as a club coach from 1995-2001 for the Emerald City Volleyball Club in Eugene, Ore.

Smith brings head coaching experience from the high school ranks as well. Smith served as the head coach at Stayton Union High School in Stayton, Ore., from 1993-96.

A native of Salem, Ore., Smith attained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Physical Education from Western Oregon University. Smith is married to Ayumi Soeda of Yokohama, Japan.

To contact coach Smith, call (785) 628-4392.

Jaime Cabral
Assistant Coach

Jaime Cabral is in his first season as assistant coach of the Fort Hays State volleyball program. A native of Waimea, Kauai (Hawaii), Cabral will assist in all aspects of the program.

Cabral came to Fort Hays State from Sitka, Alaska, where he served as the head volleyball coach and physical education teacher at Sitka High School from 2003-2006. Prior to that, he served as a student assistant coach at Western Oregon University from 2001-2003, where current Fort Hays State head volleyball coach Steve Smith served as the assistant coach.

Cabral also has volleyball playing experience as he was co-captain of the Western Oregon University men’s club team from 2001-2004. He also played four years of high school volleyball at Waimea High School, where in 1999, he was named the team’s Most Valuable Player, was an All-Conference selection, and earned All-State Honorable Mention honors.

Cabral received his bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Western Oregon University in 2004 and is working on a master’s degree from FHSU in Movement/Sport Studies. He is married to the former Heidi Holbert of Denver, Colorado. They have one son, Kieran.

Jenna Nelson
Student Assistant

Jenna Nelson is in her second season as a student assistant with the Lady Tiger volleyball program. A native of Garden City, Kan., she played volleyball for two years at Garden City Community College and graduated from GCCC with honors.

Nelson lettered four years in volleyball in high school. She helped coach the Spikers of Garden City, a junior club team, for one year. Nelson is a senior at FHSU majoring in physical therapy.

Ellen Dreyer
Student Assistant

Ellen Dreyer is in her first season as a student assistant with the Lady Tiger volleyball program. A native of Falcon, Colo., she attended Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, for one year.

Dreyer was a three-year letterwinner in volleyball at Falcon High School and was captain of the team two years. She helped coach at camps and summer league volleyball during her high school days. Dreyer is a sophomore at FHSU majoring in Art.