 |
| 1994 |
17-22 |
| 1995 |
14-12 |
| 1996 |
4-23 |
| 1998 |
22-15 |
| 1999 |
28-10 |
| 2000 |
17-11 |
| 2001 |
21-10 |
| 2002 |
27-9 |
| 2003 |
20-10 |
| 2004 |
6-21 |
| 2005 |
16-14 |
| 2006 |
7-17 |
| 2007 |
13-16 |
| Totals |
| Westmont |
177-133 |
| Career |
212-149 |
JIM SMOOT
Head Volleyball Coach
E-Mail Coach Smoot
If you ask head coach Jim Smoot to describe himself, he’ll tell you straight off, "I’m a pretty demanding coach. Players know that I am concerned for them. But part of that concern is helping our players grow as adults which means accepting responsibilities and knowing that everything isn’t always rosy."
"Volleyball is just a game," said Smoot about the expectations he has of his players. "It shouldn’t be everything to you, but it should be important to you. When you spend those two and one-half hours in practice or are in a game, you should be totally focused on volleyball because you owe it to yourself, you owe it to your teammates and you owe it to your school. When you are not playing volleyball, you have other things to do and that should be your focus. When it’s over, it’s over. Go on to your next thing. When you come back in, refocus."
Smoot has posted a record of 177-133 in his ten years at the helm of the Westmont Volleyball program. He has taken the Warriors to the NAIA National Tournament in four of those years including an appearance in the semifinals in 1999 and the quarterfinals in 2002.
In his first year at Westmont, Smoot led the Warriors to the NAIA National Tournament for the fourth time in school history. Despite being ranked in the NAIA national polls for the entire year, the Warriors were unable to advance out of pool play, losing three of four matches.
Under Smoot’s direction in 1999, the Warriors won ten of their last eleven regular season games, were runners-up in the regional tournament, and swept pool play at the national tournament to advance to the championship bracket. In the quarterfinals, Westmont defeated Georgetown (Ky.) in four games. But in the semifinals, the Warriors lost in three to Columbia (Mo,), the eventual national champion. After earning All-American honorable mention recognition the year before, Tena Mensonides was named a second team All-American selection in 1999.
The Warriors made another trip to the National Tournament in 2001 after posting an 18-6 regular season record and winning two of three matches in the regional tournament. However, the Warriors won only one of four matches in pool play at nationals and did not advance to the playoff brackets.
In 2002, Smoot’s squad once again ended the regular season on a hot streak, winning 11 of 12 games. In the regional tournament, Westmont defeated Notre Dame de Namur and Azusa Pacific, but lost to Point Loma Nazarene. After winning three of four games in pool play at the national tournament, the Warriors advanced to the quarterfinals. The Warriors were matched up with Madonna (Mich.) whom they lost to in three games. Patti Schofield was named a first team All-American after earning second-team honors the year before.
Smoot’s coaching experience prior to Westmont includes three years as the women’s head coach at South Alabama (1994-96) where he earned Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year honors in 1995. He also served as an assistant at with the women’s programs at Louisiana State and Michigan.
On the men’s side, Smoot served as head coach at the University of Hawaii (1985), Ohio State (1982-1984), Loyola Marymount (1980-1981) and El Camino Junior College. In 1982 and 1983 his Ohio State teams advanced to the NCAA Final Four.
Smoot has also coached in the Women’s Professional Volleyball League and a men’s club team in Saudi Arabia. He was head coach for the men’s East Team in the 1982 National Sports Festival, and an assistant for the men’s squad at the 1983 World University Games.
Smoot began his collegiate playing career at El Camino Junior College then played two years at Pepperdine University where he was named Most Valuable Player in 1973 and earned a bachelors degree in physical education.
In addition to his coaching duties, Smoot teaches in Westmont’s Kinesiology Department, and serves as the director of club sports. He is also the Facilities Coordinator for Westmont Athletics.
Currently serving as the NAIA Region II Volleyball chair, Smoot is also a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association NAIA Head Coaches Committee.
JESSE WHEELER
Assistant Volleyball Coach
Jesse Wheeler serves as an assistant coach with the volleyball program. Wheeler’s coaching experience includes two years as head girls coach at Bishop Diego High School in Santa Barbara, where he earned Coach of the Year honors in 2001. He has also served as an assistant for both the men and women’s teams at Santa Barbara City College, and assisted locally on the high school level at Laguna Blanca and San Marcos.
"Jesse brings so much knowledge and experience to the team, it is like having another head coach," said Smoot. "His coaching emphasis is on defense and he has done a tremendous job in working with our back row."
Wheeler, who works at Melchiori Construction as a project manager, is in his six year as an assistant at Westmont.
PATTI COOK
Assistant Volleyball Coach
Three-time All-American, Patti Scofield Cook, has serve on the Warrior coaching staff for three seasons. With 2,079 kills, Cook is Westmont’s career kill leader and kills per game leader (4.58). In addition to coaching, Cook played for three years on the AVP Beach Volleyball Tour but took this season off because she and her husband Matthew are looking forward to the arrival of their first child in September.
"Patti has become a role model for what the Westmont volleyball program can produce," remarked head coach Jim Smoot. "Her success both here at Westmont and on the professional ranks, helps to get the Westmont name known among potential recruits."
As a coach, Cook’s knowledge of the game has become an important resource for the Westmont squad.
"Patti has proven to be adept at running drills, analyzing skills and giving feedback to our players," noted Smoot. "She brings to our program an emphasis on the importance of consistancy and maturity and she is a model of the intensity needed to be successful. Patti also helped to develop our summer strength training program for our players."
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