I started coaching Volleyball British Columbia’s “Team BC” High Performance programs in 1998. Since then, most summers I select a program or two to be involved in as a professional development experience. I have bounced back and forth from coaching indoor to beach, as I enjoy both disciplines. Some of my coaching and leadership highlights over the years include:
- Winning two National Championships at Volleyball Canada’s National Team Challenge Cup. (1998, 2009)
- Winning the Rucanor Cup in Gendt, Belguim and a bronze medal at the 2001 Canada Summer Games.
- Coaching multiple beach teams to medal finishes at the US Junior Olympics, BC Summer Games, Western Canada Summer Games, and Canada Summer Games.
- Establishing and running the Team BC 14U Beach program multiple summers.
- Mentor coaching for indoor and beach programs for the BC Summer Games regional coaches.
- Establishing and coordinating professional development sessions for 16U Team BC coaches.
In 2013, I took on a unique challenge as the as the Head Coach of the Canadian Deaf Sports Association Men’s Beach Volleyball Program. We attended the 22’nd Summer Deaflympics in Sophia, Bulgaria. This experience gave me new insights into international multi-sport Games and a deeper understanding of the Beach discipline in a different context.
In the summer of 2017, I accepted the position of Head Coach of the U20 Men’s Provincial Beach Volleyball Program, in preparation for the 50’th Canada Summer Games. Our training and competition blocks were held in Nanaimo, Vancouver and Los Angeles. While in California the athletes participated in the USA Volleyball Collegiate Championships at Huntington Beach, finishing in 6’th place. In that tournament they had the opportunity to play several matches against American and Brazilian teams that were preparing for the U21 FIVB World Championships held in China. Preparation also included qualifying for the prestigious Vancouver Open, where they also faced top level completion including FIVB professionals.
Despite many of the competitors being older and taller, we captured the Canada Games Gold Medal! A fantastic accomplishment made even sweeter, because my son was one of the two athletes! Click here to watch a brief highlight video!
About Team BC
Team BC’s delegation of 455 athletes, coaches, managers, technical support and mission staff will represent British Columbia at the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg. Team BC athletes are the best young developing talent in this province and are our future national and international champions. Visit teambc.org for the latest news and updates.
About the Canada Games
The Canada Games are a national multi-sport competition with participation from every province and territory in Canada. The Games are held every two years, alternating between winter and summer. The 2017 Canada Summer Games were held July 28 to August 13 in Winnipeg, bringing together approximately 4,000 athletes, coaches, and managers from every province and territory to compete in 16 sports. The Canada Games will celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2017 coinciding with Canada 150. Visit canadagames.ca.