Another record setting season in the Okanagan has the Heat’s 15-year head coach Steve Manuel adding a coach of the year award to the list of accolades UBC Okanagan women’s volleyball squad has earned in 2015/16.
EDMONTON, AB – For the second time in four seasons, Steve Manuel is the Canada West Coach of the Year, after winning the award back in 2012-13.
Manuel guided the UBC Okanagan Heat to another stellar season, as the Kelowna-based school finished atop the Canada West standings for the first time since joining the conference in 2011-12 and set a program and conference record for wins with 22.
The veteran coach, who guided UBCO’s transition to the Canada West level after guiding the Heat to a pair of college national titles in 2009 and 2010, is now looking for his second CIS coach of the year award after taking home the honour in 2013.
“When it comes to Women’s’ Volleyball, Canada West is clearly the strongest conference in the CIS winning 30 of the last 33 Championships. In the five years since UBC Okanagan started competing in Canada West, Steve Manuel has taken his team to the playoffs the last four years, the last three to the Final Four and the team has been ranked in the top five in the country in 33 of the 69 polls since 2011,” UBC Okanagan Director of Athletics & Recreation Rob Johnson pointed out.
“Steve couldn’t be more deserving of this award – he is truly a professional coach. He has assembled a great staff and they have guided this team to a remarkable season. To be honoured by his peers and chosen over the quality coaches that work in Canada West is a fitting reflection of how Steve is perceived. He is an excellent coach and a great ambassador for UBC Okanagan, the Canada West conference and women’s volleyball across the country.”
All Canada West women’s volleyball award winners: http://www.canadawest.org/sports/wvball/2015-16/releases/20160303wvballawards
~ Canada West communications