Brendan Schmidt was named Assistant Coach for the men's and women's volleyball teams in February 2021.
During his time with the men's program, Schmidt helped the program to its most successful season in program history, beginning with an 8-0 start to the 2021 season, and its first national ranking in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches Poll in February 2021.
Schmidt returns to his alma mater after competing at the professional level with the International Volleyball Federation (2018-20), competing in Romania, Germany, and Spain. Schmidt was selected to be part of the United States men's volleyball team that competed in the 2018 Pan American Cup in Cordova, Veracruz, Mexico, and helped the team to a seventh-place finish. Schmidt was selected the following year to compete for team USA in the 2019 Pan American Cup in Colima, Mexico, where he helped the team to a fifth-place finish; and then later that summer in the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.
Schmidt was a member of the inaugural McKendree University men's volleyball program in 2013-14. He is the current record holder in total career blocks, with 347, and is also the current record holder for total blocks in a single season with 109.
Before Schmidt's time at McKendree, the O'Fallon, Mo. Native led Fort Zumwalt West High school with 153 kills, 154 blocks, 265 digs and 19 service aces as a senior. The two-year letterman earned First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-Conference accolades, and was an All-Tournament Selection in the Parkway Central Tournament.
Schmidt earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from McKendree University in 2018.
