Women's Soccer
Smaha, Tyler
Tyler Smaha
- Title:
- Director of Player Analysis
- Email:
- smahat@xavier.edu
- Phone:
- 515.943.4003
Tyler Smaha was promoted to Xavier women's soccer associate head coach in November 2023 after serving as assistant coach since July 2021. He joined head coach Nate Lie's coaching staff in July 2020 as Director of Player Analysis.
"Tyler is, quite literally, one of the most driven, hard-working, productive people I have ever met," said Lie. "He has a relentless mentality toward improving Xavier Women's Soccer and helping us realize our full potential, and his passion is infectious. At the same time, Tyler is also a natural and intentional relationship-builder, who brings positivity, humor and energy on a daily basis.Â
"He made an immediate impact the second he joined our program, displaying selflessness, humility and adaptability, while starting off as a volunteer GK coach -- with no goalkeeping background. In the three years since, Tyler has become essential in everything that makes us successful, and I'm excited to see his continued growth going forward."
Since joining Xavier's staff, Smaha has helped coach the Musketeers to at-large bids to the NCAA Championship in three-straight seasons (2021-23)Â marking the first back-to-back appearances in the tournament in program history.
The 2023 Musketeers earned a share of the BIG EAST regular season title, the program's second in the last three years, and the league tournament's No. 1 seed, earning a bye to the semifinals. The Musketeers have spent most of the 2023 season ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, and earned a 4-seed in the NCAA Championship.
In 2022, Xavier finished with unbeaten BIG EAST regular season record for the first time in program history and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship for a second-straight season. Xavier advanced in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history, topping Tennessee, 4-1, in the first round.
The 2021 Musketeers won the BIG EAST Regular season title, earning the program's best rankings in the USC Poll (No. 11) and the RPI (No. 7) during the season. Xavier earned the program's first at-large bid and home match in the NCAA Tournament after finishing runners-up in the BIG EAST Tournament.
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Smaha came to Xavier from Fort Hays State University, where he had served as an assistant for the women's program since 2019. Prior to that, Smaha had worked as a volunteer assistant for the men's program at Drake.
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Additionally, Smaha worked as a staff coach for both the Iowa and Kansas Olympic Development programs, and also coached on the prep level on both the club stage at Sporting Iowa and at Johnston High School.
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Smaha holds a USSFÂ C License and United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Diploma. He's also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
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As a player, Smaha spent three seasons at Buena Vista University, before spending his final season at Simpson College. He graduated from Simpson College with a Business Management degree with a Minor in Secondary Education in 2017, and earned a Master's degree in Health and Human Performance from Fort Hays State University in 2021.
Smaha lives in Cincinnati with his wife, Kendall.
"Tyler is, quite literally, one of the most driven, hard-working, productive people I have ever met," said Lie. "He has a relentless mentality toward improving Xavier Women's Soccer and helping us realize our full potential, and his passion is infectious. At the same time, Tyler is also a natural and intentional relationship-builder, who brings positivity, humor and energy on a daily basis.Â
"He made an immediate impact the second he joined our program, displaying selflessness, humility and adaptability, while starting off as a volunteer GK coach -- with no goalkeeping background. In the three years since, Tyler has become essential in everything that makes us successful, and I'm excited to see his continued growth going forward."
Since joining Xavier's staff, Smaha has helped coach the Musketeers to at-large bids to the NCAA Championship in three-straight seasons (2021-23)Â marking the first back-to-back appearances in the tournament in program history.
The 2023 Musketeers earned a share of the BIG EAST regular season title, the program's second in the last three years, and the league tournament's No. 1 seed, earning a bye to the semifinals. The Musketeers have spent most of the 2023 season ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, and earned a 4-seed in the NCAA Championship.
In 2022, Xavier finished with unbeaten BIG EAST regular season record for the first time in program history and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship for a second-straight season. Xavier advanced in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history, topping Tennessee, 4-1, in the first round.
The 2021 Musketeers won the BIG EAST Regular season title, earning the program's best rankings in the USC Poll (No. 11) and the RPI (No. 7) during the season. Xavier earned the program's first at-large bid and home match in the NCAA Tournament after finishing runners-up in the BIG EAST Tournament.
Â
Smaha came to Xavier from Fort Hays State University, where he had served as an assistant for the women's program since 2019. Prior to that, Smaha had worked as a volunteer assistant for the men's program at Drake.
Â
Additionally, Smaha worked as a staff coach for both the Iowa and Kansas Olympic Development programs, and also coached on the prep level on both the club stage at Sporting Iowa and at Johnston High School.
Â
Smaha holds a USSFÂ C License and United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Diploma. He's also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Â
As a player, Smaha spent three seasons at Buena Vista University, before spending his final season at Simpson College. He graduated from Simpson College with a Business Management degree with a Minor in Secondary Education in 2017, and earned a Master's degree in Health and Human Performance from Fort Hays State University in 2021.
Smaha lives in Cincinnati with his wife, Kendall.
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