Tyler Smaha

Bio

Tyler Smaha joined the Kansas soccer staff in December 2023. Smaha comes to Kansas after spending the last four seasons working with Lie at Xavier University as an assistant coach, before he was promoted to associate head coach in October 2023.

Smaha has helped Xavier qualify for the NCAA Tournament each of the last three seasons, marking the first back-to-back-to-back appearances in the tournament in Xavier’s history. The Musketeers won the BIG EAST regular-season title in 2021 and claimed a share of the title in 2023.

Xavier posted a 22-1-8 conference record over the past three seasons and has an active 28-match unbeaten streak in conference play, which dates back to the 2021 season. The undefeated conference season in 2022 was the first in program history at Xavier.

During the last three seasons with Smaha as a part of the coaching staff, Xavier finished the season with a top 30 RPI ranking, becoming one of just 12 programs nationally to achieve that. The Musketeers were also one of five programs nationally with five or fewer total regular season losses over the last three seasons.

In 2021 and 2023, Smaha was alongside Lie as they received BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year honors.

Prior to Xavier, Smaha was a graduate assistant at Fort Hays State University (2019-20) and a volunteer assistant coach for the men’s soccer program at Drake (2018-19).

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 (Iowa).

Smaha holds a USSF 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.

A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Smaha attended and played soccer at Buena Vista University for three years, before spending his final year at Simpson College. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business management from Simpson College in 2017 and a master’s degree in health and human performance from Fort Hays State in 2021.

Smaha is married to his wife, Kendall.

Smaha’s Coaching Career Highlights:
• Qualified for three NCAA Tournaments at Xavier (2021, 2022, 2023)
• Earned two BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year awards at Xavier (2021, 2023)
• Coached three BIG EAST Players of the Year at Xavier (Midfielder, Goalkeeper, Freshman)
• Developed four players who have signed professional contracts
• Helped Xavier finish with a top 30 RPI ranking (2021, 2022, 2023)
• Assisted in Xavier being one of five programs nationally with five or fewer total regular season losses over the last three seasons (2021-23)