Staff Directory
Samantha Smith
- Title:
- Director of Operations and Player Development
- Email:
Samantha Smith joined the Abilene Christian soccer staff in June 2026 as the director of operations and player development. In addition to her duties in operations and player development, she will lead the program's spiritual development.
Smith completed her playing career in 2025 at Southern Nazarene University, where she competed for two seasons. She began her career with four years at Cal State San Bernardino and was a team captain for three seasons. Smith earned her Master's in sports management and administration from Southern Nazarene in June 2026 after graduating summa cum laude from CSUSB in 2024 with her Bachelor's in sports and entertainment marketing. She was named to the Dean's List each semester in San Bernardino.
Smith has previously held positions with UK International Soccer and at the Southern Nazarene Student Success Center.
What head coach Stephen Salas is saying:
"Sam is going to make a tremendous impact at ACU, and she already has in the short time she's been here. We're excited for her to step into this role as our soccer director of operations, while also leading our spiritual formation and player development efforts. From the moment we interviewed her, it was clear that her focus is on each other's salvation first, right alongside their overall experience and well-being of the student-athletes. Families entrusting us with their daughters can expect someone who invests in who they become, not just how they perform."
Smith completed her playing career in 2025 at Southern Nazarene University, where she competed for two seasons. She began her career with four years at Cal State San Bernardino and was a team captain for three seasons. Smith earned her Master's in sports management and administration from Southern Nazarene in June 2026 after graduating summa cum laude from CSUSB in 2024 with her Bachelor's in sports and entertainment marketing. She was named to the Dean's List each semester in San Bernardino.
Smith has previously held positions with UK International Soccer and at the Southern Nazarene Student Success Center.
What head coach Stephen Salas is saying:
"Sam is going to make a tremendous impact at ACU, and she already has in the short time she's been here. We're excited for her to step into this role as our soccer director of operations, while also leading our spiritual formation and player development efforts. From the moment we interviewed her, it was clear that her focus is on each other's salvation first, right alongside their overall experience and well-being of the student-athletes. Families entrusting us with their daughters can expect someone who invests in who they become, not just how they perform."
Thursday, July 16
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