Raftyn Rignell is in her fifth season as an assistant coach for SMSU in 2013, including fourth as top assistant. She was named to her current position on Dec. 21, 2009.
Rignell has helped keep SMSU among the top programs in the country during her four seasons on staff. During her tenure, SMSU has compiled a 107-22 overall record, with four NCAA tournament appearances, including an appearance in the NCAA region championship match in 2011, along with one NSIC regular season title and one NSIC tournament championship.
Prior to SMSU, Rignell spent two seasons (2007-08) as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Marquette University and three seasons (2004-06) as head coach at NCAA Division III Presentation College in Aberdeen, S.D. During her final season at Presentation in 2006, she led the Saints to a school record 14 victories and the program’s first-ever winning season. In addition to her duties as head volleyball coach at Presentation, she worked as the assistant women's softball coach, senior woman administrator and also spent one season as the assistant women's basketball coach.
Rignell has also been active in junior Olympic volleyball, including serving as head coach of the Southwest Minnesota Junior 18’s club team, which tied for eighth place at the 2009 national tournament.
A native of Marshall, Rignell earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut in 2004, where she was a four-year letterwinner (2000-03) in volleyball recording 446 kills and 189 blocks in her career. She completed her master's degree in education with an emphasis in coaching and administration from Northern State University in 2011.
Rignell and her husband, Derek, a former SMSU baseball player, live in Marshall with their sons, Rocco and Archer.
