Hastings College has initiated a new era for its volleyball program with the appointment of John Schmidt as head coach. Schmidt, who brings over 30 years of coaching experience, has taken charge this fall, aiming for long-term development and a fresh offensive strategy. He succeeds Alex Allard, who concluded his six-season tenure with a record of 78-84 and one appearance in the NAIA Tournament.
As a coach with a robust background in both the NAIA and NCAA Division I and II, Schmidt’s previous roles include coaching at the University of West Alabama and Seward County Community College. His impressive resume features three conference championships, two national tournament appearances, and recognition as the River States Conference Coach of the Year in 2019.
Schmidt’s offensive philosophy emphasizes aggressive play and dynamic movement, a shift that he believes will take time to fully implement. “I don’t worry about results, I worry about the process,” he stated, as the Broncos were projected to finish eighth in the Great Plains Athletic Conference preseason coaches’ poll. “Our offense is very dynamic — we want to move the ball pin to pin and attack the middle.”
The early stages of the season have shown promise, particularly through the performances of sophomores Mikah O’Neill and Makenna Sutter, who have each contributed significantly to the team’s attack. O’Neill has tallied 68 kills with a .302 attack percentage, while Sutter has added 62 kills. Senior setter Alexis Pontine has facilitated the offense with 125 assists, helping the Broncos achieve a team hitting percentage of .188.
Schmidt fosters not only technical skills but also creativity and autonomy among his players. “They have been very enthusiastic about the changes and they love the movements,” he noted. “Some of them feel like they’re able to be creative on the volleyball court for the first time in their lives.” He encourages outside-the-box thinking and problem-solving, which he sees as essential for the players’ development.
Defensively, sophomore Lainey Benson has emerged as a key player with a team-high 91 digs, supplemented by O’Neill’s 64 digs and sophomore Hailey Whitmarsh with 50 digs. Schmidt emphasizes the importance of focusing on the next play, stating, “The most important play in the game is the next play.” He aims to build confidence in his players, acknowledging that the sport is filled with errors and challenges.
The Broncos began their season with a 1-3 record during the Bethel (Kansas) Tournament but rebounded with two victories at the Hastings College Classic. They triumphed in a five-set match against Ottawa (Kansas) and followed it with a four-set win over Kansas Wesleyan.
Schmidt expressed satisfaction with his team’s resilience, noting, “The most important thing I saw right away was that we are resilient — we fought.” He acknowledged the challenges posed by the new system and the team’s inexperience but remains optimistic about their growth. “We might not be extremely successful right out of the box this year. We’re going to need to take the time to really grow,” he concluded.
As the season progresses, Hastings College looks to build on its early successes under Schmidt’s leadership, forging a path toward a promising future for the Broncos volleyball program.
