Seifert Signs Extension To Remain Head Coach Through 2017

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Seifert Signs Extension To Remain Head Coach Through 2017 Season
SMU locks in only coach in program history for at least three more seasons

Feb. 9, 2015

DALLAS (SMU) - Lisa Seifert has signed a three-year extension to remain head volleyball coach at SMU through the 2017 season, SMU Director of Athletics Rick Hart announced today. Seifert, who started the program at SMU in 1996, is coming off the most successful season in program history with a record 26 wins and just six losses, including the program's first win over a ranked opponent with a 3-2 victory over then-No. 24 Oklahoma.

"Coach Seifert has made our volleyball program one of the best in American Athletic Conference," said Hart. "She has instilled our departmental values or service, passion, integrity, respect, innovation and teamwork into her student-athletes as evidenced by their work and success both on and off the court. We are happy to have her as a leader within our Mustang family."

Seifert earned her 300th win as a head coach on Oct. 12, 2014, and is 311-274 in 19 seasons at SMU. Over the past five seasons, her teams have gone 99-58, including a 29-9 mark against American Athletic Conference opponents, finishing second in the league in both seasons since joining the conference in 2013.

Under her leadership, four players have earned seven All-America awards, all in the past six seasons, and her players have earned 41 all-conference selections, including 20 in the past five seasons. She has guided two players to Conference Player of the Year awards at their respective positions, each in the past two seasons. Her student-athletes have earned 80 Academic All-Conference accolades, and Avery Acker was named an Academic All-American in 2014.

"I sincerely appreciate the vote of confidence from Mr. Hart. With that said, it's important for me to also recognize my staff," Seifert stated. "My assistants are as passionate as I am about being the best every day. They have made my job easier and so much fun. It takes a lot of people to make the wheel turn effectively, and I don't take for granted what the extended staff does every day for our team and the program. I can't say enough about the athletes. They are amazing young women who share our passion to be the best they can be both in the classroom as well as on the court."

Seifert was named Conference Coach of the Year in 2003, and in 2013, was elected by her fellow coaches to serve as President of the League Coaches for the American Athletic Conference. She has also served as a member of the AVCA Coaches' Poll Committee, the Northeast Regional Advisory Committee, the NCAA West Committee, and the Mid-West Region Awards Chair, as well as the All-Region and All-America award selection committees.

Seifert earned her B.S. in physical education in 1983 from Winona State (Minn.) University, where she played volleyball and softball, and added a master's degree in physical education from Wisconsin-LaCrosse in 1987.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Great news!

Congratulations, Lisa.