Mandy Bible enters her eighth season as an assistant coach for both the Saint Mary's women's indoor and beach volleyball teams in 2021-22 after a four-year playing career as one of the greatest players in Saint Mary's volleyball history.
Bible returned to Saint Mary's in 2015 to begin her coaching career after concluding her professional playing career in Europe. During her first three seasons with the Gaels, Bible has acted as the Gaels' in-game offensive coordinator. She also serves as the Gaels' setting technical coach. SMC's hitting percentage and assists per set numbers have increased in each of the last two seasons since her inaugural 2015 campaign. Bible also works as the Gaels' recruiting coordinator.
Bible is also in charge of monitoring team academics, an area in which the Gaels have excelled in during her tenure. Since 2015-16, Saint Mary's student-athletes have earned a total of 42 WCC All-Academic honors (25 indoor, 17 beach). The Gaels earned a Team Academic Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association following the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
Bible made her mark at Saint Mary's as a setter, but she did a lot more than simply set up plays. She ended her career as a Gael first in total assists with 5,362, first in assists per game with 12.47, first in service aces (128), first in service attempts (1,980), second in block assists (400) and ninth in digs (939).
She also made a mark away from the court, earning a spot on the WCC All-Academic team as a senior. Bible also spent time assisting in the Saint Mary's athletic department and served in a variety of roles.
From 2009 to 2015, Bible continued her playing career in several parts of Europe. She began her career as a member of the OK Luka Koper Volleyball Club in Slovenia, winning a bronze medal in the 2010-11 season. In 2011, she signed with ASKO Linz Steg Volleyball Club and competed in the CEV Cup, Middle European League and Austrian League. She helped the club finished second in the Austrian League both seasons, and advanced to the CEV Cup quarterfinals during the 2012-13 season. After taking 2013-14 off, Bible re-signed with OK Luka Koper and earned an award for best setter in Slovenia while helping the club reach the finals of the Slovenian Cup. While overseas, she also caught the coaching bug, helping to coach mini and juniors volleyball in Europe.
Bible is recognized in both the Saint Mary's Hall of Fame and the WCC Hall of Honors for her achievements in volleyball during her time with the college.
Bible met her husband, Uros, while playing volleyball in Slovenia and have been married since March 2015. They have one son, Kai Smolnik.
