Dave Preston inducted into Chatham Sports Hall of Fame

CHATHAM, Ont. – The Chatham Sports Hall of Fame has added seven new members. The Class of 2022, officially inducted on Thursday night at the J.D. Bradley Convention Centre, is comprised of three athletes, one team and three individuals recognized as builders including McMaster’s Dave Preston.

Longtime Marauders men’s volleyball coach, Dave Preston, is a seven-time OUA Coach of the Year and has been named the National Coach of the Year three times. He is entering his 21st season with the Marauders and his 31st year overall as an OUA coach. Preston has posted a 341-89 career record (0.793 winning percentage) since joining McMaster.

Under his watch, the Marauders have produced 53 OUA All-Stars, 15 All-Canadians, six OUA Rookies of the Year, two CIS Rookies of the Year, 27 members of the OUA All-Rookie Team, five Dale Iwanoczko Award winners and one CIS Fair Play Award winner. His players were named the OUA Player of the Year from 2013 to 2018. The Marauders have also captured ten OUA Championships and participated in 13 U SPORTS Championships during Preston’s tenure. 

In addition to his varsity exploits, Preston has been involved with Canada’s national program, spending two years as the head coach of the Canadian Junior Men’s National Team, which represented Canada at the 2014 U21 World Championship held in Turkey. He was also an assistant coach for the Canadian Senior Men’s National Team that won a bronze medal at the 1999 Pan Am Games. That Canadian team was enshrined in Volleyball Canada’s Hall of Fame in 2000. Preston was also named as an assistant coach for the 2021 U19 Team Canada men’s volleyball team. 

In the summer of 2022, Dave Preston was announced as the next Head Coach of the Australia men’s national volleyball program – the Volleyroos – on a part-time basis, as Australia looks to host the 2032 Summer Olympics.

The maroon and grey will open the pre-season at home against the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday October 15th at Burridge Gymnasium. Game time is 7pm.

Coach Preston and the Marauders will host the nation’s best at the 2023 U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball Championship from March 17-19 in Hamilton.

For the latest news and updates on the McMaster Marauders, follow @mcmastersports on social media or visit www.marauders.ca.