WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Palm Beach Atlantic University Director of Athletics Courtney Lovely Evans has named Jazz Schmidt the next head coach of the PBA beach volleyball program. Schmidt returns to PBA to lead the beach team having starred as a student-athlete for the Sailfish in indoor and beach volleyball.
"We are so excited to welcome Jazz back to PBA to lead our beach volleyball program," Lovely Evans said. "I was so impressed by how she's grown and matured in her time away from PBA. She is familiar with our mission here and has a strong passion for using volleyball to give glory to Jesus and develop young women. Jazz has been a part of several high-level volleyball programs, and I believe she possesses the ability to lead us to success on and off the court."
Schmidt graduated from PBA in 2022 before transferring to Creighton University to play her final season of indoor volleyball. Schmidt was a second-team AVCA all-American and named Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year for the Sailfish indoor volleyball team in 2021. She helped the indoor squad make multiple appearances in the NCAA tournament during her PBA career. She also played three seasons for the PBA beach volleyball program. She played primarily at the No. 1 pair, winning 82 percent of her matches. Schmidt totaled 50 wins in her beach career, the second most in program history.
"I am thrilled to return home to PBA, and I am so thankful for Courtney Lovely Evans and the entire PBA athletic department for trusting me to lead the beach volleyball program," Schmidt said. "The Sailfish have been in great hands the past five years and have displayed excellence athletically and academically. I am honored to continue this tradition and strive for new heights on and off the court."
Since leaving PBA, Schmidt has surrounded herself with successful volleyball programs. In her final season of collegiate volleyball, Schmidt played 23 matches with seven starts for a Creighton team ranked in the AVCA top 25 in 2022. The Bluejays finished 27-5 with a Big East Championship and a berth to the NCAA tournament. Schmidt finished second on the team in hitting percentage, hitting an efficient .346.
"I am beyond excited for the opportunity to coach the current and future student-athletes at my alma mater while leading them closer to Christ," Schmidt said. "I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store next for PBA Beach Volleyball."
Schmidt began coaching as a volunteer with Creighton in the spring of 2023 before landing the assistant coach position for the indoor volleyball team at Wingate in March of 2023. She spent the 2023 season with the Bulldogs, leading the team to a 29-3 record, a SAC regular season title, and an appearance in the NCAA tournament.
Following the season with Wingate, Schmidt served on the staff of the newly formed Omaha Supernovas in the Pro Volleyball Federation. The Supernovas went 18-8 to win the inaugural PVF Championship. Schmidt assisted in practice planning and match strategies along with assisting in day-to-day operations for the team.
Schmidt takes over a PBA beach volleyball program that just finished its fifth year of play. The squad went 19-17 in 2024 including a 14-5 mark against other NCAA DII programs.
