Bio

A teacher/coach of the sport for 30+ years, Smith was named the Head Coach in 2018 and started the Miramar Jets’ women’s volleyball program with a mixture of recruits and player from campus forming Miramar’s first WVB team. The Jet’s won 1 match in the first year and has continued to build with 3 wins in the second year.

Mark co-founded the Seaside Volleyball Club with Coach Fred Featherstone in 1989. He assisted Coach Featherstone with the 1990, 18-1 Black team that won the Silver Medal (2^nd overall) at the Junior Olympics in Albuquerque. New Mexico. In 1991, He led the Seaside 16-1 team to a 3^rd place finish at the SoCal Classic JO qualifier, this team qualified 4th in the open division, but they did not participate in the JO’s. In 1992 He assisted Mike Baykal with the 18 Black team that won the club’s first Open National Championship at the Junior Olympics. In 1993, Mark followed up this effort with the 16’s again and finished 12^th in the Open Division. In 1994 coaching the 18 Black team that finished in 15^th. In 1995 he assisted Mike Baykal with the 18 Black team that missed medaling by 1 spot by finishing 4^th in the open division. During this time he had the pleasure of coaching a few Olympians: Eric Sullivan, Rich Lambourne, Reid Priddy, and David Lee.

Mark left Seaside in 96’ to form his own club – Shorebreak- out of Escondido, where he remained until 2002. Smith led his 1999 18-1 team to 9^th in the Open Division in New Orleans. He produced over 20 collegiate players and 1 NCAA All-American (Nils Nielson) and 1 AVP Pro (Billy Allen). Currently developing and Men’s club program at SoCal volleyball Club.

Mark has been a Head coach at five different High schools in San Diego. During these years Mark won 10 league championships and over 13 CIF appearances. In addition, Mark was an assistant with UCSD 1993 to 1995, Palomar College 2000 to 2003, San Diego City College from 2009 to 2011. Mark also has experience with the Men’s Deaf Olympic team as a first assistant during the 2005 and 2017 Olympic games. He has been a clinician at Pepperdine, Stanford, and Seaside next level volleyball camps.

Mark is also an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Dept. of Exercise Science, Health & Nutrition at Palomar. He holds a Master’s degree in Physical Education/Coaching from Azusa Pacific University, and a Bachelor's degree in Humanities from San Diego Christian College. Smith is a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association and has earned CAP Level I certification through USA Volleyball's Coaching Accreditation Program. Smith and his wife Lisa reside in the Vista California.