Dyer named CCAA Coach of the Year

Austin Dyer of the Lakeland Rustlers has been named the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women’s Volleyball Coach of the Year.

Dyer was honoured during the 2023 CCAA Women’s Volleyball National Championship, hosted by Vancouver Island University (VIU) in Nanaimo, BC.

“Austin led Lakeland to their first championship win since 2017, in one of the most competitive conferences in the CCAA,” said Beth Clark, CCAA Women’s Volleyball Convenor. “His passion is reflected in his commitment to community development, student-athlete success in the classroom and of course on the court.”

Dyer guided the Rustlers to an 18-1 record and first-place finish in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) North Division. Lakeland captured the ACAC title with a straight-sets victory over the Augustana Vikings in the Conference Championship final.

A fully certified Level 3 performance and advanced development coach, Dyer has coached at Lakeland for 14 seasons and his teams have made the playoffs each year. The Rustlers have medaled in the ACAC in four of the last five seasons and have earned CCAA medals in three of the past 10 seasons, including a CCAA Championship crown in 2017.

Dyer has built a strong culture at Lakeland, focussing on the athletic department’s three key pillars: Success in the classroom, success and engagement in the community and success in competition.

He coordinates annual Rustler volleyball camps in the summer, development volleyball camps for elementary aged children, and travels around Alberta and Saskatchewan in the summer to rural communities running volleyball camps. He also recently took several of his student-athletes to the local military base, where he offered an instructional clinic for women there. 

In addition, Dyer is also currently mentoring his third CCAA Female Apprentice Coach Program (FACP) participant this season, working closely with former Lakeland student-athlete Orianna Hyndman.

“Austin has done a great job building our Women’s Volleyball program over the years,” said Alan Rogan, Director of Athletics at Lakeland College. “His focus on positive culture and his dedication to the student-athletes and the sport of volleyball in general has set a solid foundation for Rustlers Women’s Volleyball for years to come.”

Other nominees for the CCAA Women’s Volleyball Coach of the Year award were Shane Hyde of the VIU Mariners (Pacific Western Athletic Association), Kyle Guenther of the Providence Pilots (Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference), Kelly McGuire of the Conestoga Condors (Ontario Colleges Athletic Association), Danyk Sauro of the Nordiques de Lionel-Groulx (Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec) and Don McKey of the St. Thomas Tommies (Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association).

The CCAA Women’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