For nearly two decades, Dave Preston has been the face of the McMaster Marauders men’s volleyball team.
Although he wouldn’t stand alone in that spotlight, as he always points to his players and coaches as equal partners in his team’s success.
He’s led the charge for the most successful dynasty in OUA history, winning six straight conference titles (2013-2018), nine OUA Championships, and participated in 12 U SPORTS Championships. He’s collected two silver medals and four bronze medals there. All of those medals came in that 2013 to 2018 run. He was named OUA and U SPORTS Coach of the year in 2008, 2010, and 2015, and OUA West Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2018.
The Chatham, Ontario, native is also the coach of the Canadian U21 men’s team, a role he’s held since 2012. He’s captured a silver at the NORCECA Championships so far. He also stood with Team Canada from 1999 to 2004 as an assistant coach, winning a bronze at the 1999 Pan Am Games. That team was named to Volleyball Canada’s Hall of Fame.
Volleyball Canada recently had a chance to talk with Preston about his coaching career and some thoughts on coaching in the sport.
U SPORTS is the governing body of university sport in Canada. Their goal is to give its athletes the place they deserve both at the top of the podium and at the top of every Canadian's sports-watching agenda. This contributor is part of our Fair Dealing Policy: https://momentumvolleyball.ca/fair-dealing-policy/