SMU Athletics

Brad Kearns is entering his sixth season on the Hilltop and his third season as the head coach of the SMU Equestrian program in 2026-27. Kearns assumed the role after being an assistant during the most successful stretch in program history, including being a part of two National Championship teams in 2023 and 2024. 

In his second season at the helm, Kearns led the Mustangs to another successful campaign. Ending the season with three top-five ranked victories and five NCEA All-America selections, SMU Equestrian sustained its status as one of the top programs in the nation. Being named a top-five seed at the NCEA Championships for the fourth consecutive season, the Mustangs finished the year at the NCEA Quarterfinals where they narrowly fell 11-8 to the 2026 NCEA National Champions, South Carolina.

Maintaining his duties helping coach the Western side, Kearns saw three Mustangs earn All-America status in Western as well as an NCEA Reining Rider of the Year. Junior Jayna Lagace and sophomore Violet Shetler each were named NCEA All-America Honorable Mentions in Horsemanship, with both riders securing multiple MOPS and NCEA Horsemanship Rider of the Month honors throughout the season.

Freshman Madison Rafacz found immense success in her debut season as a Mustang, becoming an NCEA First-Team All-American in Reining and the 2026 NCEA Reining Rider of the Year. The Ocala native went an unblemished 9-0-2 in her freshman campaign, collecting four MOPs and two NCEA Reining Rider of the Month honors along the way.

On the Western side, the Mustangs secured 16 MOPs, sweeping the Western accolades in eight consecutive meets this season. Showcasing their depth in Horsemanship, the Mustangs have had three riders pick up multiple MOPs in the event.

During his first season as head coach, Kearns helped SMU continue to solidify its place at the top of the sport. The Mustangs started off 3-4, but rattled off seven consecutive victories to close the regular season to earn the No. 1 overall seed for the NCEA Championships in Ocala. SMU would advance to the finals for the fourth time in the last five seasons and claim the Reserve National Championship.

Kearns coached on the Western side along with his head coach duties and helped the unit dominate throughout the season. In Horsemanship, the Mustangs boasted a 15-2 record and won the MOP at every meet during the season. SMU won on the Western side in the final 10 meets of the season and had a 13-3-1 record overall in the discipline. 

The success all season led to Alexa Black (Horsemanship), Nya Kearns (Horsemanship) and Chalyce Head (Reining) earning Ariat All-America accolades. Nya Kearns also was named NCEA Horsemanship Rider of the Year honors for the third time in her career. Following the NCEA Championships, Alexa Black (Horsemanship), Nya Kearns (Horsemanship), Violet Shetler (Horsemanship), Sara Filiatreau (Reining) and Addi Schmersal (Reining) earned spots on the All-Championship Team. 

The Mustangs also worked their way up the record books in Kearns' first season at the helm. On the western side, Nya Kearns became the NCEA All-Time leader in Horsemanship wins and Horsemanship MOPs. Chalyce Head also became SMU's all-time leader in Reining career wins and picked up the second most in a season during 2024-25. Alexa Black won 14 times during the year, to become second on SMU's Horsmeanship wins list for a single season.

The accomplishments were not limited to competition, as 11 Mustangs earned APHA All-Academic honors and 19 earned their spot on the NCEA Academic Honor Roll.

In his third year with the Mustangs, Kearns helped SMU earn its second consecutive NCEA Dual Discipline National Championship. During the season, Kearns mentored three Western All-America Selections, two NCEA Riders of the Year, four All-Championship Team honorees and a Nationals MOP. Kearns led the Mustangs' Western arena to a 10-4-2 record in 2023-24, and was honored as the NCEA's Western Coach of the Year.

Kearn’s was a key component of a historic Mustang team that captured SMU’s first NCEA National Title in program history. Five of Kearn’s riders, Nya Kearns, Mallory Vroegh, Chalyce Head, Lily Anderson and Alexa Black were named NCEA All-Americans. Vroegh and Dani Latimer were also named the National Championships Most Outstanding Performers in Horsemanship and Reining, respectively. 
 
In Kearns's first year as the Western Coach, SMU added its fourth consecutive ECAC Conference title and finished No. 3 in the final NCEA poll of the season. The Mustangs were 11-7 on the year and 4-1 in the conference. At the NCEA Championships in Ocala, Florida, SMU took down No. 1 Auburn in convincing fashion 12-8 in the quarterfinals. Kearns coached two all-American selections in Nya Kearns and Mallory Vroegh. The Mustangs had four NCEA all-American selections total, including two in the Western discipline. 

Kearns took over as the Mustangs’ Western Coach in July 2021. He joins SMU after a successful career competing, coaching and judging in the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), American Paint Horse Association (APHA) and National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA).
 
Kearns has coached multiple youth riders to AQHA High Point All-Around year-end titles. In addition, he has coached two AQHA Select World Champions, eight AQHA Youth World Champions, four AQHA Amateur Reserve World Champions, three AQHA Amateur Reserve World Champions and three Appaloosa World Champions.
 
As a competitor, Kearns is an AQHA World Champion and Reserve World Champion in Trail and Western Pleasure and has won a number of national titles in other events as well.
 
Kearns has served as a judge at major horse shows across the United States and around the world in countries like Switzerland, Germany and Australia. He previously judged the American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show and the Australian Pleasure Horse Association National Championship Show.
 
Kearns’ daughter, Nya Kearns, previously competed in Horsemanship for the Mustangs. Nya is a five-time all-American.