SMU Athletics

Christa Branson was named Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for Mustang Volleyball in February 2023 after serving the program as the Director of Operations for the 2022 season.

Branson was an instrumental part in helping SMU volleyball earn a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and host-site honors for the opening two rounds for the first time in program history, becoming the first DFW school to be seeded high enough to host since UTA hosted in 1991. As recruiting coordinator, Branson played a significant role in helping garner the No. 1-ranked transfer portal class in the country for the 2025 season.

In the summer ahead of the 2025 season, Branson got opportunities to Coach for USA Volleyball this summer in the National Training Development Program (NTDP), taking part in the session in Hamilton, Ohio, which ran from July 29-Aug. 1.

The Mustangs finished the season 25-8, finishing fourth in the ACC with a 16-4 conference record, and guided SMU to its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance, its second in-a-row, and an opening round tourney win, sweeping Wichita State. With Branson on staff, Mustangs defeated seven ranked teams in 2024, including No. 1 Pitt and No. 2 Nebraska. The Mustangs also collected a program record of 12 round wins in her third season on the Hilltop.  

Branson helped mentored four All-ACC and four AVCA All-Region Selections. Naya Shime and Celia Cullen were named First-Team All-Conference and All-Region Selection. At the same time, Natalie Foster and Maya Tabron earned a spot on the ACC Second-Team and All-Region honorable mention accolades. Shime and Cullen were also named AVCA All-Americans, with Shime being selected to the third team, the program's first player to make an All-American Team, and Cullen bringing in honorable mention recognition. The 2024 transfer class was ranked top-10 in the country, spearheaded by Branson as the recruiting coordinator. 

The Mustangs have had four players drafted into the Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF), three coming in 2024, as Naya Shime, Natalie Foster, and Maya Tabron were selected in the second and third rounds of the draft. Emma Clothier was the first Mustangs drafted in 2023.

In Branson's second year on the Hilltop, the Mustangs finished the season with a 26-7 overall record and won the American Athletic Conference championship. SMU finished league play with an 18-1 record, marking the best conference winning percentage in program history (.947), and won the program's first league title since 2016. The Mustangs rode a 15-match win streak into the NCAA Tournament and entered as a No. 7 seed after seven straight sweeps. SMU swept Texas State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to finish the month of November without dropping a set. 

Branson helped guide five All-AAC and two AVCA All-Region Selections, including the American's Player of the Year Emma Clothier, Setter of the Year Celia Cullen, and Libero of the Year Sina Uluave. Jamison Wheeler was named a First-Team selection, and Natalie Perdue earned a spot on the Second-Team. Clothier and Cullen both earned All-Region honors. 

Branson arrived on the Hilltop from West Texas A&M University where she served in an assistant coaching role with the Lady Buffs volleyball team. During her time in Canyon, Texas, Branson specialized in training middles and blocking while assisting in recruiting for the program.  West Texas A&M Lady Buffs won the Lone Star Conference Tournament Championship, reached the Division II NCAA Elite 8 and had two All- America selections.  
Prior to West Texas A&M, Branson served as Interim Head Coach for Lubbock Christian University (2020) and Assistant Coach (2018-20).

Previous to her collegiate coaching debut, Branson coached at Lubbock Christian High School (2016-17) where she led the team to appearances in the TAPPS 4A Regional Tournament.

Before her coaching career began, Branson (Daniel) competed at Division II LCU from 2011 to 2014. During her career, she played in 83 matches, reaching 6.13 digs/set as the libero and team captain for the Chaps.

Branson and her husband Alex have a son, Bishop.