Lexi MacLean - Women's Volleyball Coach

Lexi MacLean

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
lexi.maclean@usm.edu

Lexi MacLean joined Jenny Hazelwood's staff in January of 2022 as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

Before making the move to Hattiesburg, MacLean most recently worked as a recruiting coordinator for Central Arkansas Volleyball. She has four years’ experience as a volleyball assistant and support staff member as well as a four-year career as a student-athlete at the highest level of NCAA competition.

“I’ve known Lexi for a long time and when I took this job, I knew she was someone I wanted to hire,” Hazelwood said of MacLean. “Lexi is incredibly hard-working, passionate and loyal in every way. Her volleyball playing and coaching experiences will bring so much to the players in our program and I truly feel like Southern Miss volleyball is fortunate to have someone like her on staff.”

A native of Frisco, Texas, MacLean enjoyed successful stints at two division-I universities, Arizona State and TCU. Arriving at Arizona State after a decorated high school career that saw her club team finish fourth in the Girls Junior National Championship, MacLean made an immediate impact on the Sun Devils squad. Her debut against Washington State featured 10 digs on route to a 15-0 start and No. 5 ranking in the national polls. Her efforts helped lead the Maroon and Gold to an NCAA Tournament Appearance where the team fell to Florida State in the first round.

She remained with the Lady Devils for her Sophomore year, fully transitioning to Outside Hitter and tallying a career high in kills with 200 – fifth-best for ASU that season. MacLean also set career highs for hit percentage (0.174) and points (217.5).

MacLean transferred to TCU prior to her Junior season and remained with the Horned Frogs for the rest of her career. In her first season in Fort Worth, MacLean made her presence known, starting in 21 matches while playing in 28 matches and 89 sets in total. She finished the year with 183 digs and 185 kills, third- and fifth-best for the Horned Frogs. TCU finished the season 15-17, falling to rival Texas Tech in the Third Round of the NIVC (National Invitational Volleyball Championships).

As a senior, MacLean started all 27 matches and played in all 102 sets as the Horned Frogs compiled a 15-12 record and a 7-9 Big 12 record. After starting the year as a Libero, she moved to the Outside Hitter position for the final 19 matches of the season. Over the season, MacLean set career highs in assists, aces, and digs; 34, 25 and 339, respectively.

Over her four-year career, MacLean played in 333 sets in 97 matches and recorded 564 kills, 67 assists, 672 digs, and 665.5 total points. During her time with Arizona State, she was twice named a Scholar Baller and was a member of the 2016 Pac-12 Academic Honorable Mention Team. MacLean graduated TCU with a bachelor’s degree in Communication with a minor in Sociology. She continued her education and started her coaching career in Fayetteville, Ark., working as a Graduate Assistant for the Razorbacks.

During her tenure with the Hogs, MacLean worked with team personnel and players on a daily basis in practice and through keeping official statistics for the team. During her three seasons in under coach Jason Watson, the Razorbacks saw improvements in all statistical categories. In 2018, Arkansas finished in the top five in just one SEC statistical category, Team Attacks Per Set, which they led the conference in with 36.58. The Razorbacks also had three players finish in the top ten of six different categories within the SEC and two players finish in the top 100 of three categories nationally.

By her final season in Fayetteville, Arkansas was a top 100 team statistically in eleven national categories, four of which they finished in the top 50 nationally. As a team, the Razorbacks led the SEC in two categories and finished top five in nine other conference categories. Additionally, three members of the cardinal and white finished in the top 50 nationally across nine categories.

MacLean and Arkansas enjoyed a successful 2020-21 season, winning 14 SEC games, the most since 2003. Head Coach Jason Watson was named SEC Coach of the Year and two players were recognized as members of the All-SEC team. Jillian Gillen was also named to the AVCA All-South Region Team and recognized as an SEC Scholar-Athlete. The other SEC honoree, Taylor Head, was named as the SEC Freshman of the Year and also a member of the AVCA All-South Region Team.

She earned her master’s degree in Physical Education in 2021 and left the University of Arkansas for the University of Central Arkansas. In one season with the Sugar Bears, MacLean served as the team’s assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Through her efforts, UCA made it to the semi-finals of the Southland Conference Tournament.

As the team’s recruiting coordinator, MacLean took a lead role in the signing of the Sugar Bears class of four – two coming from Arkansas and two coming from Texas. Among them, a member of the 2021 AVCA High School All-Region Team, a three-time member of the Texas All-State Tournament Team and 2019 State Champion, a member of the AVCA All-American Watchlist with over 1500 career digs, and three-time member of Texas’s All-6A team.