Jack Smith

I was born and raised in Syracuse, Utah, and have lived here my whole life except for the two years I spent serving a mission in Argentina. I didn’t start playing volleyball until I was 17, when I joined my high school’s club team. After that season, I was invited to compete at the AAU National Tournament with a club team, which sparked my passion for the sport.

I went on to play for one of the top 18s club teams in Utah, competing in tournaments across multiple states. Our team consistently finished in the top three and brought home several tournament championships. During my senior year at Syracuse High School, our team finished 13-1 in region play and placed 6th at the state tournament.

Before leaving on my mission, I had the opportunity to give back by coaching a 17s boys team, serving as an assistant coach for a 16s boys team, and helping with Vortex’s Club Prep program. Throughout my playing career, I’ve been fortunate to learn from many incredible coaches at Vortex who helped shape me both as a player and as a person. Now I’m excited to pass those lessons on and help athletes build confidence, develop their skills, and enjoy the game.

My favorite quote is: “Pleased with progress, but never content.” To me, that means celebrating how far you’ve come while always striving to improve. We should be grateful for our growth, but never stop working to become better players, teammates, and people.