Smith leaving AWC for UNLV

The upcoming months are quickly becoming a busy time for the Arizona Western College athletics program.

AWC head volleyball coach Jason Smith resigned on Wednesday to take an assistant coaching offer from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, ending a successful two-season run with the Matadors. The announcement comes two days after James Pryor's resignation as the head football coach.

"This really came real fast and out of left field for me. I had no plans of leaving this year," said Smith, appropriately dressed in Runnin' Rebels black and red colors. "I'm on the phone with their head coach and recruiting coordinator at least once every two weeks, and the original conversation was about who they were bringing in and can I help you with anything. I mentioned a few names, and the next conversation was, 'Are you interested?'"

Smith said he has had a long relationship with UNLV head coach Allison Keeley and her assistant dating back to his Mountain West Conference days as an assistant at the University of Utah. His close work with the Rebels and their recruits helped AWC nab players like Patty Paniagua and Kimee Clark.

"I really like the conference and most of the coaches there," Smith said. "It was by no means a goal to go back there, but it does feel like a happy home."

Unlike the football program, AWC has yet to announce an interim coach for volleyball. Assistant coaches Brian Petzold and Jennifer Tagaban were both in their first seasons with the Matadors.

"I haven't talked to either of them yet, but if I don't get something done in a week's time we'll probably let one of them stand in the gap," AWC athletic director Jerry Smith said. "We might name an interim coach like we did in softball and get somebody on board, but it all depends on how it goes."

Smith had a 46-27 record with the Matadors, leading them to two Region I titles and two NJCAA Fall Academic Team of the Year honors. The Matadors lost both years in the District A Finals to Salt Community College and coach Shay Goulding, who also moved to the MWC this offseason to become the head coach at Brigham Young University.

Smith talked to his players early on Wednesday, which was also the day of their last scheduled practice before finals, and said he hopes to be involved as much as possible in helping AWC hire a new coach.

"I just told them how it went down and how I wasn't walking out on them," he said. "I'm still concerned about them and that they'll always have my cell phone number and I'll always have their back. If you put in on a piece of paper, the girls on this team were the big pull to stay here."

Clark said she still plans to play for the Matadors next season, and expects the same decision from the four other freshmen. She also said she knows most of the five recruits Smith was working with and believes they will also continue their plans to attend AWC.

"None of us expected this, but we're really close and we're going to have to be strong and make it a team effort," Clark said. "I think AWC is going to be the best spot for me next year and I'm excited to see what surprises come with that."

Smith's new program in Las Vegas is on the rise after a 2007 season that saw the Rebels win their first MWC championship and reach their first-ever NCAA Tournament.