DALLAS (SMU) -- On Friday, Trent Sorensen was named Associate Head Coach for Mustang volleyball, as the newest hire of first-year SMU head coach Samantha Erger.

Sorensen arrives on the Hilltop from Kansas State where he spent seven seasons serving in an assistant coaching role with the Wildcats' volleyball team.  

"I am beyond excited to join Sam here in Dallas," Sorensen said. We share a vision of SMU volleyball's potential, and how best to pursue it. This university has a rich athletic tradition, provides an excellent education and is in the heart of an amazing city.

"Thank you to Executive Senior Associate A.D. Kyle Conder and the administration for allowing me this opportunity. My family and I are excited to be returning to Dallas and are so grateful to share in this opportunity. We are incredibly excited, and ready to get to work."

During his seven seasons in Manhattan, Kansas, Sorensen specialized in training and recruiting, landing top-30 recruiting classes in three consecutive seasons (2018-20). In his first two seasons with the program, he helped guide K-State in back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and consecutive top-four finishes in the Big 12.

In his second season as associate head coach, Sorensen helped lead the Wildcats to a top-three finish in the Big 12 after finishing eighth just one season before.

Prior to his collegiate coaching debut, Sorensen was a highly respected coach in prep volleyball as part of the Tejas Volleyball club program in Fort Worth, where he coached 15 and 17-year-old age groups.

Before his coaching career began, Sorensen competed at the Division I level playing on the BYU men's volleyball team from 2005 to 2008. During his career, he played in 87 matches, totaling 337 kills. He served as team captain in his final season with the Cougars, ending his run with all-conference honorable mention honors and an AVCA All-American nomination.

Sorensen and his wife Kim, who also played collegiate volleyball for BYU, have four children – Aiden, Sienna, Reece, and Gavin.

"Trent is a home run hire for us, and I am thrilled he chose to join in our vision to build SMU into a nationally prominent program," Erger said.

"Our goal is simple: To provide the best college volleyball experience possible. And Trent helps us do that in so many ways. He is a great trainer, an excellent recruiter, he knows Texas volleyball, and most importantly, he is a person of high character. Our program, along with the Mustang brand as a whole, will be better with Trent on board."