Can you name another university that had daughters who had fathers that won a football Super Bowl and a baseball World Series? Such is the case with former Lee University volleyball Libero MaKayla Beebe and women's soccer standout Carly Smoltz.

Don Beebe was 5-foot-11 wide receiver and kickoff returner who played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons, primarily with the Buffalo Bills. He also played for the Carolina Panthers and the Green Bay Packers. He was a member of the Bills teams that lost four consecutive Super Bowls. He made two further Super Bowl appearances with the Packers and was part of the team that won Super Bowl XXXI over the New England Patriots. After his playing days he coached Aurora (Illinois) Christian High School to a pair of football state championships. He stepped away after the 2013 season and entered the college ranks this past year, leading Aurora University (NCAA DIII) to the North Athletics Collegiate Conference championship.

John Smoltz pitched for 22 seasons in Major League Baseball from (1988 to 2009), all but the last year with the Atlanta Braves. An eight-time All-Star, Smoltz helped propel Atlanta to perennial pennant contention in the 1990s, highlighted by a championship in the 1995 World Series. He won the National League (NL) Cy Young Award in 1996 after posting a record of 24-8, equaling the most victories by an NL pitcher since 1972. Since retiring as a player, he has served as a color commentator and analyst on television. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2015.

MaKayla Beebe says she does not remember much from dad's playing days. "I was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin in Nov. of 1996 when my dad was playing for the Packers. I guess I was lucky because they won the Super Bowl that season," she proclaimed.

"My eighth-grade basketball team was the only team my dad coached me in," she noted. "However, he took the time to train me pretty much my whole life. Those are some of my fondest memories, those long summers of training with my dad and trying to keep up with my brother. My dad trained me tough, but he never forced me to work out or even to play sports. He wanted it to come from my own passion and desire to be great. He trained me not only physically, but also mentally. He taught me the importance of character and attitude; and instilled in me the value in working hard and never giving up. My mother (Diana) was always there to support me as well.  She was the best!""

MaKayla said she visited about 12 different college campuses, but nothing seemed to be the right fit. "My journey to find Lee was interesting to say the least. But when I stepped foot on Lee's campus, it was like everything was right. I had such a peace about it, that this was where God wanted me for the next four years. So, I called coach (Andrea) Hudson and committed the day after my campus visit," she explained.

Why volleyball. "My older sister played volleyball as well, so I was always very familiar with the sport, going to all of her games. Growing up I played every sport schools had to offer. My first love was basketball. However, when I got to high school, my passion for volleyball outgrew the rest.

Beebe enjoyed an outstanding four-year career where she earned the GSC Libero of the Year, First Team All-GSC and Second Team All-South Region honors. Her degree from Lee was in Health/Wellness Education and she graduated Magna Cum Laude. "Currently, I am not specifically working in that field. My time at Lee prepared me for my next step by helping me to be more confident in who I am and what I believe in. The professors, coaches, and administrators at Lee are second to none. They truly invested in me, cared for me, and pushed me to be my best self. They not only taught me how to be a great teacher and leader, but more importantly they showed me how," she explained.

"There is honestly not much that I didn't enjoy about my experience at Lee. I really had the time of my life. I loved playing volleyball for Lee and the atmosphere on campus, but even more than that I just loved the people there. It's where I met some of my best friends and made memories that will last a lifetime," she added.

Entering Coaching: Makayla said although her competitive career is over, "I don't think I will ever stop playing the sport." She went right into coaching. "I love being able to give back to the sport that gave me so much. However, for me, coaching is so much more than that. My passion now is to pour into the lives of girls and young women, and coaching volleyball is the platform I use to do that. I gave private lessons throughout my time at Lee and still do lessons. I also coach club volleyball. Currently, I coach at Aurora University, in the Chicagoland area, as the Graduate Assistant coach for the women's volleyball team.  This past season we won our conference tournament and advanced to the NCAA tournament," she proudly explained. "My office is right down the hall from my dad's and we are having an absolute blast."

Carly Smoltz said she selected Lee because she was recruited during her freshman year and it ended up being a good fit financially, coaching-wise, and team-wise. The graduate of King's Ridge Christian School (Alpharetta, Georgia), was signed by current Lee women's coach Chris Hennessey. "The Lee atmosphere seemed different than any other visits I had. That difference was the girls on the team and the community of people at Lee that invested and believed in me." She noted former Lee athlete Richie Hughes directed her toward Lee, "Other than that both my parents (mother Dyan Caso and father John Smoltz) have been influential in my college soccer and job careers. They have pushed me, helped, and supported me through every decision," she declared. Coach Hennessey said Carly was a hard worker who always put her team first in practice and during games.

Four Outstanding Years: The Lady Flames posted an impressive 64-20-5 record during Carly's four seasons at Lee. The team reached the NCAA DII National Tournament all four years. The 2017 team won the Gulf South Conference Tournament Championship and reached the DII National Tournament Sweet 16 before falling to West Florida in penalty kicks. The 2018 squad enjoyed its greatest season to date, winning the program's first South Region Championship while marching all the way to the Final Four before being eliminated at No.1 ranked Grand Valley State.

Working toward dream job: Carly immediately began working toward her high-level dream job when she graduated from Lee with a 3.9 GPA and honors last December. "I was a Digital Media major with a Studio Production emphasis. For a lot of people who I tell that to, they do not really have a clue what that means. It is those people that wear all black, behind the scenes," she explained. "Storytelling has been the most important human tradition. As complex humans, we interpret the meaning in certain stories to feel connected to them and to understand ourselves and others better.

"I learned how to capture a story for someone through video, photo, and design. I learned sports are super interesting to me and telling that story has been on my heart and I learned that from Lee. I was able to be creative and innovative in ways that soccer was not set up to. I put together videos and graphics on the Lee Flames account that were seen and appreciated by thousands of people, a larger stage than the soccer field for a new side of me to be seen.

"This interest became my desired career path with the guidance, encouragement, and collaboration of people such as Carter Music, Carman Lastoria, Michael Colander, and Jeff Salyer. I enjoyed my experience with the creative collaboration and connection of people and community, and a hard-working soccer career."

First Job: Carly's first job was in Chattanooga at a creative agency called RVRB. "It was an amazing first-job opportunity and something that was incredibly hard to leave. The people I worked with were all Lee alums and people who continue to push me creatively, check in on me, and mentor me," she noted. "I looked up to them and thank them for the time I was there with them."

Dream job: "I ended up getting a job that was my dream job at Mercedes-Benz to be the Production Coordinator for AMB Sports Group. They handle every event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the Falcons and Atlanta United (my soccer home-teams!) I was supposed to start March 16^th, but with everything going on, it has currently been delayed. I am hoping sports will start up soon!" she concluded.