Head Coach Jacki Smith                                                                                  
Email: jackismith@carleton.edu
Phone: 507-222-5675

Jacki Smith was named head coach at Carleton on April 30, 2018.

Smith returns to her native Minnesota after guiding Lancaster Bible College (Pa.) to a 12-20 overall record with a .667 winning percentage in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) and a berth in the 2017 NEAC Championships. Smith is the ninth coach in Carleton volleyball history, and takes over the reins of the program from Heidi Jaynes, who was promoted to a full-time athletics administration role in March 2018 after 19 successful seasons at the helm.

Prior to her time in Pennsylvania, Smith served two seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater, the University of Northwestern-St. Paul (UNWSP). While on the coaching staff there, the Eagles won back-to-back Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) regular-season and postseason titles to earn berths in the NCAA Championships. The 2015 squad advanced to the NCAA regional final while the 2016 team went 34-5 and advanced to the NCAA semifinals.

A two-sport athlete at UNWSP, Smith graduated in December 2014 and jumped right into coaching after the Eagles’ 2014-15 basketball season concluded. She spent the next two years as head coach for the U-16 girls basketball team for Crossfire Youth Sports, an AAU program based in Champlin, Minn. In July 2015, she added volleyball and girls basketball coaching positions at Concordia Academy, holding all three roles until July 2017.

Smith, a middle hitter on the volleyball court, battled injuries throughout her playing career at Northwestern but finished with 136 career blocks (0.91 per set). The Eagles made the NCAA Division III Tournament every season Smith was with the team and won at least 23 matches each year.

Assistant Coach Krista Bellefeuille

Krista Bellefeuille joined the Knights prior to the 2018 season. She previously spent three years coaching volleyball at New Life Academy in Woodbury, Minn. A two-time AVCA All-American setter during her collegiate career at the University of Northwestern-St. Paul, she helped lead the Eagles to the NCAA Tournament in each of her four years, and was also an Academic All-American. Bellefeuille led active NCAA Division III players with 4,388 career assists prior to her graduation from UNWSP in 2014. She was recognized as UMAC Player of the Year and UMAC Most Valuable Player in 2013. After her final season, she was a Top 9 Finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award. She and her husband Nathan live in Minneapolis, Minn., with their children.

Assistant Coach Amanda Kramer

Amanda Kramer joined the coaching staff in advance to the 2018 season. An all-conference performer during her playing career at NAIA Division I University of Jamestown, she was a first-team All-Region selection at libero. Kramer spent three years as an assistant coach at Concordia Academy High School, helping the Beacons to a pair of state finals appearances. A registered nurse in St. Paul, Minn., she is pursuing her masters degree to become a nurse practitioner. 

Assistant Coach Aaron Chaput                                                                                     
Aaron Chaput joined the Knights coaching staff prior to the 2012 campaign. He also serves as Carleton's Assistant Director of the Recreation Center and Club Sports Director. Chaput coached high school and club teams in the Osseo (Minn.) area for several years. He played baseball at Jamestown (N.D.) College and graduated with degrees in physical education and business administration. He earned his masters degree from the University of Minnesota in recreation, park and leisure studies. Chaput resides in Farmington, Minn., with his wife Melissa and their two children.