Caceres named CCAA Coach of the Year

Jose Caceres of the Ambrose Lions has been named the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Men’s Volleyball Coach of the Year.

Caceres was honoured during the 2023 CCAA Men’s Volleyball National Championship, hosted by Humber College in Etobicoke, ON.

“Jose has impressively turned around the Lions’ Men’s Volleyball program and in doing so, has earned the respect of his peers in the conference,” said Ray Sarkis, CCAA Men’s Volleyball Convenor. “He has also quickly earned the respect of his student-athletes at Ambrose, where he guides his team with authority and conviction.”

In his first season with the Lions in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC), Caceres has transformed the mindset of the team, instilled confidence and created an atmosphere of joyful excellence. He guided Ambrose to a post-season appearance in the ACAC with an 8-11 record. A year ago, the Lions finished at the bottom of the ACAC South Division standings with a 2-14 record.

Caceres has 16 years of professional coaching experience; he was Head Coach of the St. Lucia National Team and an Assistant Coach with the Peru National Team.

The veteran coach focuses on methodology and how student-athletes are trained. He seeks to earn the respect of his players by the way he shows up, listens, and understands.  

“Not only has Jose elevated the level of play of the Men’s Volleyball team, but he has elevated the entire athletic department by his coaching excellence, physical literacy wisdom, and passion for ever-improving teaching/learning methodologies,” said Colin Kubinec, Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation at Ambrose. “Jose is a class-act, and we are so grateful that our young Men’s Volleyball student-athletes are under his outstanding leadership.”

Caceres is also in charge of Compliance and High Performance with Ambrose University Athletics, where he supports students through oversight of their academics, athletic therapy, and safe sport training.

He is also involved in training sessions with various clubs in Calgary, teaches an online course at a Peruvian University, and recently finished consulting for the physical education programming for the government of Peru. 

Other nominees for the CCAA Men’s Volleyball Coach of the Year award were Cisco Farrero of the College of the Rockies Avalanche (Pacific Western Athletic Association), Don Dulder of the Canadian Mennonite Blazers (Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference), Adriana Bento of the Centennial Colts (Ontario Colleges Athletic Association), Jonathan Brunet of the Cheminots de Saint-Jérôme (Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec) and Jason Melanson of the Dragons de Sainte-Anne (Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association).

The CCAA Men’s Volleyball Coach of the Year recipient receive a customized ring provided by Jostens Canada, the Official Ring Supplier of the CCAA.

Media Contact:
Rodney Wilson / rodney@ccaa.ca
Manager, Communications & Events