Rutgers Volleyball Adds Veteran Coach Randi Smart to Staff
Rutgers volleyball is bringing in a seasoned winner. Head coach Caitlin Schweihofer has announced the addition of Randi Smart as an assistant coach, and with her comes a résumé that speaks volumes.
Smart arrives in Piscataway with over two decades of coaching experience across all three NCAA divisions. Her track record?
It’s stacked: 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, 52 all-conference selections, 17 AVCA All-Americans, and nearly 30 AVCA All-Region honorees. She’s also coached four conference players of the year and three newcomers of the year.
That’s the kind of pedigree that doesn’t just boost a staff-it elevates a program.
Most recently, Smart led Wake Forest for six seasons, where she helped turn the Demon Deacons into a nonconference force. Under her leadership, Wake went 36-8 in nonconference play and reached a program-best NCAA RPI ranking of No. 21 in 2023. The team posted back-to-back 17-win seasons-something the program hadn’t done in over two decades.
Her player development track record at Wake is just as impressive. She coached four All-ACC freshmen, including 2022 ACC Rookie of the Year Emma Farrell, and helped Caitlyn Della earn Second Team All-ACC honors.
And it wasn’t just about what happened on the court-39 of her players earned Academic All-ACC recognition. In 2022, the Deacs won 10 matches at home, their most since 2014, and secured a postseason berth in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship-their first postseason appearance since 1986.
Before her time in the ACC, Smart made a name for herself at Cal State Los Angeles, guiding the Golden Eagles to six NCAA Division II Tournament appearances. Her debut season set the tone: a 23-9 record and a run to the NCAA DII West Region championship match.
Over her tenure, she posted a 236-90 overall record, coached eight All-Americans, and helped 18 players earn All-CCAA honors. Her teams were consistent contenders, and her players didn’t just rack up wins-they earned accolades, including the program’s second-ever CoSIDA Academic All-America award.
Smart also spent a decade as an assistant coach at Cal Poly Pomona and the University of La Verne. At La Verne, she was part of the staff that led the Leopards to the 2001 NCAA Division III national championship and a Final Four appearance in 2003. Her tenure at Cal Poly Pomona saw the Broncos go 73-40 over six seasons, adding more winning experience to her already deep coaching background.
Before she was on the sidelines, Smart was on the court herself. She played professionally in Austria for ATSC Die Kamtner and had a standout collegiate career.
She started at Utah State, where she was named Rookie of the Year, before transferring to LSU and earning All-SEC honors. She graduated in 1998 with a degree in political science.
With Smart joining the Scarlet Knights, Rutgers is adding not just a coach, but a proven builder of programs, a mentor to top-tier talent, and someone who knows how to win at every level. It’s a significant move for a program looking to climb in the Big Ten-and one that could pay dividends sooner rather than later.