Virtual volleyball coaching summit returns Jan. 8

The popular Volleyball Coaching Summit returns this January in an a convenient, online format.

After the favourable response of last year’s virtual format the decision was made to pursue the same for this year. The difference is that the sessions will be on January 8, effectively prior to volleyball seasons really ramping up.

Eight different coaches from across the country will be presenting.

The cost is $85, and can be registered through the link below

Itinerary
9:25 am – Opening Remarks – Grant Wilson
9:30 am – Creating a Coaching Philosophy – Shayne White
10 am – Between Rallys Mental Training – Matt Bain
10:30 am – Serve/Receive Technique and Systems – Nathan Bennett 
11 am – Wash Drills – Ashley Hosfeld
11:30 am – White/Bain/Bennett/Hosfeld – Hot Stove
12 pm – Lunch Break 
1 pm – Developing a Setter – Grant Wilson
1:30 pm – Practice Planning – Gina Schmidt
2 pm – Block Defence – Chad Grimm
2:30 pm – Using Stats to Make Decisions – Austin Dyer
3 pm – Schmidt/Grimm/Dyer/Wilson – Hot Stove

Coach Bios

Shayne White
Head Coach, Waterloo Warriors men’s volleyball 

Head coach, University of Waterloo Men’s Volleyball 2016 to current Hired full time 2017.
During time 3 OUA medals and 3 trips to U SPORTA nationals 
Assistant coach University of Waterloo 2012-2015

Team Canada Junior National Team Assistant coach 2017-2019
NORCECA silver in Peru and bronze in Cuba and 12th place at World championships in Bahrain

Ontario Volleyball High Performance Manager 2010-2012

Wilfrid Laurier University Men’s Head coach 2003-2010  – program cut due to economics
Wilfrid Laurier University Womens assistant coach 2001-2003 

2017 Canada mentor coach and manager
2009 Canada Games head coach men, Team Ontario – silver medal
2005 Canaa Games head coach men , Team Ontario – bronze medal

1996-2001
Started my coaching career in Sherwood Park Alberta.  While in back home coached high school girls, club level midget and juvenile girls, and juvenile boys, Team Alberta midget boys and girls.
During this period many provincial and national titles in high school and club and provincial team.  

Matt Bain
Strength and Conditioning Coach, Brandon University Bobcats

Matthew has a far-reaching psychology background in a broad range of areas. Among them includes clinical diagnosis and treatment, family-centered practices, motivation, performance concepts, and emotional management. This range has allowed him to reach diverse populations to improve problem-solving and perform better in life. Matthew has master’s degrees in both Education and Sport & Exercise Psychology, doctoral-level work in Clinical and Counselling Psychology (ABD). He is currently doing his Ph.D. in Sport Psychology, focusing on personality and motivation across the lifespan. Lastly, Matthew has an extensive background in sport, having performed at National levels and coached athletes to National and International success

Matthew has held multiple roles in the field of human performance. Roles such as post-secondary faculty, head coach in sport, member of an integrated performance team (Canada Games, USports programs, ACAC programs), or one-on-one psychology professional, striking a balance between the demands of a current situation and a full understanding for how the situation is being viewed is key to success. Matthew has worked with high performance athletic populations in varying capacities, persons experiencing eating disorder and disordered eating issues, workplace performance, along with mental health and performance challenges such as anxiety and depression. Matthew’s interests are in working with individuals and teams to reach a healthy and performance mindset.

Nathan Bennett
Head Coach, University of Frasery Valley Cascades men’s volleyball

Nathan Bennett took over as head coach of the Cascades men’s volleyball program in 2019, tasked with seeing the program through its final PACWEST campaign and building towards its Canada West conference debut in 2020.

The Athabasca, Alta. product is no stranger to B.C.’s post-secondary volleyball community. He was head coach of the Capilano Blues men’s team from 2012-2014, earning PACWEST coach of the year honours in 2013 and guiding the Blues to the conference championship that same season. He went on to serve as assistant coach with the Thompson Rivers University women’s volleyball program from 2014-2018.

In 2018-19, Bennett helmed the Saskatchewan Huskies men’s volleyball squad and led them to a 12-10 regular-season record and a Canada West playoff berth.

Bennett has also coached extensively with the Volleyball Canada Centre of Excellence and Team B.C.

Before moving into coaching, Bennett fashioned a highly accomplished career as a player. He spent five years with the Alberta Golden Bears, winning a U SPORTS (then known as CIAU) national championship in 1997. He went on to spend 12 seasons playing professional volleyball in Europe, and was a member of Great Britain’s national team from 2008 through 2012.

Bennett holds a Bachelor of General Studies degree from Thompson Rivers University, and a Masters in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University Irvine.

Ashley Hosfeld
Assistant Coach, Brandon University Bobcats women’s volleyball

Ashley currently serves the Brandon University women’s volleyball program as lead Assistant Coach. Her responslbilities are diverse but has focused on recruiting for the Bobcats during the Covid-19 cancelled seasons. 

Prior to joining the Bobcats coaching staff she played two seasons at BU and three seasons at Fanshawe College. She is also a CSEP certified personal trainer at the BU Healthy Living Centre.

Grant Wilson
Head Coach, Brandon University Bobcats men’s volleyball

Grant has spent his entire professional career coaching at various levels and is currently is in his ninth season as the head coach of the Bobcats men’s volleyball team. Grant led the Bobcats to the program’s first Canada West championship in his first season as head coach and won another conference title in 2019, en route to a U SPORTS national championship appearance.

That same season Grant was named both the Canada West and U SPORTS Coach of the Year.

Gina Schidt
Head Coach, Simon Fraser University women’s volleyball

Gina Schmidt is currently in her 9^th season as the head coach of Simon Fraser University’s women’s volleyball team. At the helm of Canada’s only NCAA program, Schmidt has lead the team to seven consecutive winning seasons including two trips to the NCAA Division II Championship. A native of Beaverlodge, AB, Schmidt was a NCAA DI assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Montana prior to joining SFU. During the summers, Schmidt has been involved with the Canadian National Team program in various capacities, including head coaching the Junior National and Senior ‘B’ Teams. She was also an assistant with the Youth National Team and the Senior A Team at the World Grand Prix in Poland and Czech Republic in 2016.  

As a player, Schmidt earned a Business degree while playing in the Pac-10 Conference for the NCAA Division I Oregon State Beavers. She was a member of the Canadian National Team for several years and also played professionally in the top divisions of France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland and Finland as both a hitter and a setter.

Chad Grimm
Head Coach, Thompson Rivers University women’s volleyball

Chad has spent the past 7 years as head coach at TRU. Prior to assuming the head coaching duties of the women’s team he served as an assistant coach with the WolfPack men’s volleyball program, spending eight seasons with the program. Grimm played professional volleyball in Denmark and Belgium from 2002 to 2005 and moved into a coaching position for a top men’s team in Denmark for the 2005-07.  

He most recently served as assistant coach with the Canadian Senior Women’s Team at the Norceca Championships in 2021.

Austin Dyer
Head Coach, Lakeland College women’s volleyball

A Viscount, Saskatchewan native, Austin Dyer, is the Head Coach of the Lakeland College Rustlers Women’s Volleyball program in Lloydminster, Alberta.  The Rustlers compete in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC).

Austin has ran the Rustlers Women’s Volleyball program for the past 13 years.  During his tenure his team has qualified for playoffs every year and won 2 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze ACAC medal.  His program has also won a silver and bronze CCAA medal and a National Championship in the 2016/2017 season.

Austin is an NCCP fully certified level 3 performance and advanced developmental coach. He holds bachelor degrees in Kinesiology and Education and has his Masters of Education in Coaching Studies.

The 2021 BU Bobcats Volleyball Coaching Summit is proudly presented by the Grey Cup Legacy Fund