Jenna Smith brings with her a deep passion for the game, a strong connection to the AQ community, and a proven record of leadership and player development.
A two-time letter winner for the Saints, Smith returns to the helm of the program where she enjoyed a standout playing career and recently served as an assistant coach for three seasons. During her tenure on staff, she played a key role in guiding the Saints to conference and regional success, culminating in being part of the 2024 NAIA North Region Staff of the Year.
Before stepping into the interim head role, Smith also served as the Director of Player Development at AYSO United West Michigan, where she was instrumental in growing youth soccer and mentoring the next generation of athletes. As a player, Smith competed at both Schoolcraft College and Aquinas, and gained experience at the semi-professional level with AFC Ann Arbor in the USL-W League.
Smith graduated from Aquinas College with degrees in Business Administration and Sports Management, after beginning her academic journey studying Liberal Arts at Schoolcraft. As a player for the Saints, she totaled 10 goals and 18 assists across 45 career starts, racking up over 3,200 minutes of play and proving to be a reliable and creative attacking threat.
Originally from Michigan and now living in Grand Rapids, Smith enjoys spending time with her dog, watching movies, and riding her bike when away from the soccer field. Her decision to return to Aquinas as a coach was driven by the positive impact her student-athlete experience had on her life.
“I loved my time as a student-athlete at AQ, and when I had the opportunity to come back as a coach of the program that gave so much to me as a player, it was a no-brainer. I want to give as much back to the program as I can.”
With a deep understanding of the program's culture and a relentless commitment to student-athlete growth, Jenna Smith is poised to lead the Saints with pride and purpose.
