Coaches – Sky Volleyball Club

SKY COACHES 2020 (UPDATES IN PROGRESS)

Dwayne Remple

18UB-Black, Coach

Dwayne has been coaching the Vernon Christian School Royals Senior High Boys team for the past 8 years and just completed a school best Silver medal finish at this year’s provincials. Dwayne played 4 years of college volleyball for the Columbia Bible College Bearcats in the BCAA winning a bronze medal in the 1994 provincials. He then went on to acquiring his NCCP level 2 coaching certification and spend 2 years coaching the same Bearcats college team down in Abbotsford before moving to Vernon for work. Since then he has Coached the U18 boys Vernon Club team as well as the U13 boys team and recently assisted the U16 boys team this past season.

His coaching philosophy is player development and more importantly seeing young men grow in their character through playing and training with discipline, intensity, integrity and grace. He stresses treating the opposition, teammates, coaches and officials with respect all the while competing at your full potential. He loves introducing players to advanced game strategy.

Dwayne is married and has a daughter age 12 and a son age 14 who both love volleyball. He works for Interior Savings Credit Union as an Estate Planning specialist and still finds time to play volleyball in the community.

Chris Bannick

18UB-Black, Assistant

Chris has been coaching volleyball for 22 years at various levels in school and club seasons. He has been coaching senior boys at Vernon Christian, where he teaches, for the past 13 years winning a bronze medal at Provincials in 2014, a silver in 2017, and most recently a championship title in 2018! Growing up in Kelowna, Chris was a multi sport athlete playing soccer, softball, and hockey. He caught the volleyball bug while going to Bible College and has loved playing and coaching the sport ever since!

Philosophy of coaching includes wanting to not only teach the game, but instil a passion for the sport; one that strives to be the best an athlete can be on and off the court. Volleyball is a game that requires teamwork, sportsmanship, and fellowship. As much as hard work and passion is required, so is his motto of D.I.I.G.- play with discipline, intensity, integrity, and grace. Training these young boys to become men of D.I.I.G. is important as it develops their character. He looks forward to working with this year's team and seeing them develop to be the best they can be.

He enjoys spending his time with his family, especially his 2 grandsons. In the summer you can find Chris enjoying the outdoors whether he is at the lake, camping, or on the golf course.

Kyle Brewer

18UG-Blue, Coach

Kyle's list of volleyball accomplishments is deep. A high school Fraser valley MVP, Provincial all-star, and Fraser Valley Volleyball Club two-time Provincial champion. He played for Team BC for 4-seasons and UCC for 1-year where they were Provincial silver medalists, and National bronze medalists.

Kyle went on to play at TRU for 2 seasons and was a red-shirt at UBC for 1-season. He has been a beach volleyball Provincial Champion 3 times, and National Gold and Bronze medal winner.

Kyle has coached the Men’s BC Deaf Team 2-time national champions (ages 15-72 years old), the Women’s Canadian Deaf Team to a silver medal at Pan American games in Brazil. He has coached club volleyball ages 13U-18U, and is the former Vice President of Sky Volleyball.

Currently, Kyle is a Pharmacist at Lumby IDA and father to Hayden & Mylo...future Sky athletes!! "I love watching players grow as athletes and as humans. My biggest pride is sending athletes off to college and university volleyball teams".

Kyle robinson

18UG-Blue, Assistant

Jabob Molitwenik

17/18UB-Blue, Coach

Rebecca Molitwenik

17/18UB-Blue, Coach

Dawna Sales

17UG-Blue, Coach

Dawna has been coaching for over 20 years. She started coaching a 15U team and eventually led that team to a 5^th place finish at 18U Nationals. With most of those athletes still involved in the sport as well as lifelong friends. Continuing to share her passion for sport and athlete development, she has coached club, high school, elementary school, as well as community based youth volleyball programs. Prior to moving to Vernon, Dawna was the president of Air Attack Volleyball for 10+ years as well as invested over 20 years as a sport administrator within the Canadian volleyball world and Richmond Olympic Oval.

Her philosophy includes teaching kids to be passionate about volleyball but also learn all life’s lessons along the way. Dawna can usually be found spending time with her community, being outside, and enjoying her family and friends she has met through a lifelong involvement in sport!

Maddie Findlay-Proctor

17UG-Blue, Assistant

Maddie began playing volleyball 10 years ago, and has been coaching for 3 years. She played with Sky Volleyball and the Seaton Sonics volleyball team all through high school. Some highlights include winning silver in her grade 12 senior year with Seaton, and then taking a gold metal home at nationals with Sky. Maddie’s main position was libero and defensive specialist but she always loved to hit when she got the opportunity. Since retirement, she continues to play volleyball in recreational and beach leagues.

She is very excited to continue to be apart of Sky Nation and share her skills with the athletes.

Trevor Embleton

17UG-White, Coach

Trevor has been coaching with Sky Volleyball Club since 2013 and has attained a Trained Advanced Development Coach certification. He has previously coached 16U boys and girls as well as 18U girls. He recently coached the Volleyball BC 14-16U Beach Train & Play camps in Vernon.

Trevor’s background in volleyball stems from watching hours of volleyball as a kid where he picked up the volleyball bug and played through high school into University. He has also spent over 6 years coaching cross country skiing and when not skiing can be found riding his mountain bike.

His coaching philosophy is player development and believes it is critical to show the players the next steps and how to get there. He strives to see the players reach their full potential while developing respect for their teammates, the game and themselves. He is looking forward to another year of coaching and continuing to building on the Sky Volleyball Club momentum.

TBC

17UG-White, Assistant

Troy Lorenson

16UG-Blue, Coach

Troy's high school volleyball career included captaining the 1982 AAA Provincial high school champs, the 1983 AVA Juvenile provincial champion "Alberta Selects", and playing 2-seasons on the Alberta Can-Am team.

During his 5-years setting for the U of A Golden Bears, he was a 3-yr captain, 2-time MVP/Costa Chrysanthou Memorial Trophy winner, and recipient of the U of A's President's Trophy for Outstanding Leadership. Troy received his degree in Physiotherapy (Valedictorian) in 1990. He was the Assistant Coach of the Golden Bears in 1989-90.

While in university, Troy was Assistant Director of Alberta Volleyball Association, and owned a volleyball camp company called "Up With Volleyball".

Troy is married to Tracey and has 2 daughters both who played in the club. He works for Performance Health, and is President of Beyond Sport Inc. which he founded in 1992. Troy sets for the Canadian Masters team, and has coached Sky 14-17U teams over the past 10-seasons.

Beth Andrews

16UG-Blue, assitant

Charlie Smith

16UB-Black, Coach

Charlie is a 4th generation Okanagan resident, born in Vernon Charlie played volleyball for George Elliott secondary school in Winfield, with his club experience from the Kelowna volleyball club and his grade 12 year with sky volleyball In its inaugural season.

Charlie grew up as a multi-sport athlete playing rugby basketball and skiing all his life. He spent the previous year co-coaching the junior team at Fulton but has also coached grade 8 teams from George Elliott in the past. As well as coaching at camps in the summer.

Caleb Haberstock

16UB-Black, Coach

Caleb has been avidly involved with volleyball for more than 10 years first as a player in club and high school and more recently as a coach. He has previously coached high school volleyball at the U16, U15, and U14 levels and has also coached club at the U14 level.

He sees coaching as the best opportunity to use his experience to give back to young and aspiring athletes and help them grow into their potential. He believes that each player has a unique role to fill on the team and that all roles are important to the success and well-being of the team. He practices a positivity-based coaching style where players are encouraged to embrace responsibility and grow through both their successes and mistakes. Caleb sees volleyball as a terrific way to build physical skills but also leadership, teamwork, sacrifice, and the value of hard work which all transfer to life beyond sport.

Outside of volleyball, Caleb is a fourth year chemistry major finishing up his degree and balancing the schedule that comes with busy university life.

Caleb is really looking forward to working with the U16 boys team this year and sees a lot of potential in the squad.

Victoria wedding photographer www.neilslattery.com

John Neilson

16UG-White, Coach

Pat Neilson

16UG-White, Assistant

Pat grew up playing volleyball in Kelowna. She was captain of the BC provincial team which one gold at the 1975 Canada games and is being inducted into the B.C. volleyball Hall of Fame. Pat won several junior and senior national championships playing with Chimos in Vancouver, and was also captain of the SFU volleyball team and named the SFU female athlete of the year.

Pat has coached high school and club volleyball, and was President of Vernon Volleyball Club for several years. She still plays volleyball locally, and at an annual Masters tournament in Utah.

Pat is looking forward to coaching and sharing her love for sports with her husband John!

Anita Rae

16UG-White, Assistant

Anita achieved dual intercollegiate athletic scholarships in soccer and volleyball while completing her post secondary education at different post secondary institutions in Canada. She has had her share of team try out jitters and learned through life that “courage is not the absence of fear, but feeling the fear and doing it anyway” (Hoisington). Anita knows the value of excellent coaches and is so grateful for the great coaches she has had throughout her life.

She has coached a variety of sports, multiple teams, and ran youth sports camps for over 22 years on a number of different competitive levels and age groups including World’s.

Anita has enjoyed working and volunteering with Pacific Sport, Athletes in Action, regional recreational centres and also volunteered in youth detention centres running physical education programs. She believes in whole person development for kids of all ages through team sport.

Anita passionately enjoys staying fit herself by continuing to personally take up new challenges and plays sports (including volleyball), regularly to continually learn and be stretched. Fun fact - she started ballet at 22 years of age and played basketball in Tibet where she taught English to Tibetan and Chinese students.

Jeremy Wilson

15UB-Black, Coach

Jeremy joined the SKY Nation in 2017 as a spectator, has coached one of the boys teams since 2018 and served on the SKY Board since 2019.

All three of his kids are players in the Club and being part of volleyball and the SKY Nation has been fantastic for the entire family. Through coaching, Jeremy enjoys watching all players develop as both athletes and young adults. Jeremy was a setter himself, many moons ago, but it was golf that led him to College in Kentucky on a golf scholarship.

Jeremy hopes to be part of the SKY Nation for many years to come!!

Maria Hansen

15UB-Black, Assistant

Fane Triggs

15UG-Blue, Coach

Fane played 3-years of college volleyball in Quebec, and 4 years at McGill University.

He has coached OUC College for 3 seasons, and the B.C Provincial team for 4 seasons. Fane has a long high school coaching career, including 17 years with the Kelowna Secondary School senior boys, and 4 years with the W.L. Seaton Senior boys. Fane has been coaching in the Sky Volleyball Club for the past 5 seasons, at various age levels.

As Sky Volleyball's Director of Coaching, Fane helps select, train and oversee our excellent team of coaches at all levels of the club.

Lori Moger

15UG-Blue, Assitant

Lori competed as an NCAA Div II athlete while earning a degree in Kinesiology. She went on to Indiana University graduate school (Human Kinetics/Sports Psychology), and while there coached their club men’s volleyball team, Junior Olympic U 16 girls and teaching undergrad classes (including many courses of volleyball). After a few years away from coaching, Lori is excited to be back assisting a team this season! She loves to watch athletes discover their inner strength and the importance of team over individual.

Lori earns money as a kinesiologist and speaker, but more importantly is an above average water skier, enjoys coffee just a bit too much and loves living with her teenagers, cat and magical fish. Go Sky!

Brandon Aikema

15UG-White, Coach

Brandon grew up in Armstrong playing basketball and soccer all throughout high school until his graduation year when he found a passion for volleyball. Since graduating he has continued to play volleyball recreationally, both indoor and outdoor. He has been assistant coach for both Pleasant Valley Secondary School and Vernon Christian School’s Jr boys’ teams.

Brandon’s favourite part of coaching is watching players learn and develop skills such as problem solving, communication, and leadership on and off the court. Through many years of playing multiple team sports his experiences have taught him the importance of self-confidence, leadership, respect, team building and trust. He hopes to teach the importance of these values and characteristics to every player he coaches.

Sarah Koch

15UG-White, Assistant

Sarah grew up in Vernon attending the Vernon Christian School. She has always loved volleyball and has enjoyed sharing that passion through coaching for the past 10 yrs.

Her coaching resume includes 2 years of head coach for VCS grade 8 girls, a year leading their junior boys team and acting as assistant coach for 2 years with SKY volleyball's U13 and U14 girls teams. This year she is taking on the role of head coach for the U15 SKY White team and is excited for what this year will bring.

Sarah loves coaching and sharing her love of volleyball, along with the important life skills gained playing team sports. She hopes to impart the importance of cooperation, self-esteem, encouragement and communication both on and off the court. Seeing young athletes grow in skill and character is the motivation that drives her to be the best coach and mentor she can be.

Tommy Ip

15UG-Grey, Coach

I love coaching because I like helping young players grow and find their potential. I've played volleyball for 8 years and am always looking for a way to get better.

Nadia Smith

15UG-Grey, Assistant

Steve White

15UG-White, Coach

Steve has been coaching volleyball since 2003, from grade 8 up to the senior high school level. After graduating from Kelowna Secondary, he attended UBC in Vancouver and was fully immersed in the sport, playing on the junior varsity team, refereeing, and participating in and coordinating intramurals. He’s spent many hours on indoor, grass, and beach courts. He even met his wife by visiting City Park in Kelowna one summer day after university, Mikasa volleyball in hand.

Now that the first of his three girls is in high school, Steve looks forward to many more years of coaching, and helping teenagers to grow in their skills and love for the game. His style of coaching is to help kids learn through focussed drills, game-like situations, and self-discovery. As Socrates taught, it’s almost impossible to teach someone without them having asked the question. So cultivating a desire to learn the game and how to improve is the key to excelling while having fun.

Steve is excited to join the Sky team, and to see teenagers developing skills and friendships throughout the season.

Aly Lypchuk

14UG-Blue, Co-Coach

Aly has been involved in Sky Volleyball for 7 years and has coached a variety of teams from 13U to 15U. She was also the secretary of the board for 2 years. Aly grew up playing volleyball, fast-pitch and hockey in Armstrong and Vernon and has shifted her passion from playing to coaching. In addition to coaching at Sky, she has coached several high school teams, including the Seaton Junior Girls for the past 5 years. Aly believes in developing well rounded athletes who are exceptional people both on and off the court.

Aly is a french immersion teacher at Beairsto with a B.A. from UVic, B.Ed from UBC and an M.Ed from UBC. She lives in Vernon with her children, Zag and Pippa, who are cats.

Janelle Robertson

14UG-Blue, Co-Coach

Janelle has been a part of the Sky family for 5 years, coaching teams with ages ranging from 14U to 17U. She grew up in Armstrong, playing volleyball, basketball and fast-pitch throughout elementary and high school, before moving on and playing volleyball for the UBCO Lakers while she completed her B.Sc.

Janelle coaches as a way of giving back to the fantastic coaches she had, and believes all sports are an important part of growing up. Her coaching philosophy revolves around working with individual and team goals, and not forgetting to have fun while competing.

Janelle is an Accountant in Vernon, with a B.Sc. from UBCO, and is working on her CPA designation. She lives in Vernon with Zag's cousin, Cartel, who is also a cat.

Emma Haner

14UG-Grey, Co-Coach

Mehgan Reeves

14UG-Grey, Co-Coach

Victoria Schneider

14UB-Black, Coach

Lewis McNight

14UB-Black, Assistant

Chad Romain

14UG-Black, Coach

TBC

14UG-Black, Assistant

Travis Kiel

14UG-White, Coach

TBC

14UG-White, Assistant

John Gardner

13UG-Blue, Coach

Mike Gilman

13UG-Blue, Assistant

John Riemersma

12/13UB-Black, Coach

John has been coaching for 20 year at various levels. Following John’s post-secondary volleyball experience, John began his coaching career as a high school coach to both girls and boys teams. John continued to pursue his education in Kinesiology and made some connections with coaches who began to mentor him and bring him on board to help with club programs. John then took a step into collegiate athletics and became the head coach of the Prairie College men's team. While he was in this position he had the opportunity to coach both the U16 and U18 Alberta Boys Provincial teams. Both teams had great success with the U16’s finishing second at Western Elites and the U18 team winning the NTCC gold medal. Throughout his time in Three Hills, John had a passion for developing a volleyball club with the focus being on introducing kids to volleyball and creating a love for the game. It is a highlight in John’s career as 15 years later the club is still running.

From Prairie John moved to Olds College to coach the men's volleyball team. While at Olds College, John coached the team to a provincial championship in 2011 in the Alberta College Athletics League (ACAL) and brought the team into the ACAC. Since moving to the Okanagan John has been involved in club programs, school athletics and has begun a mini volleyball program in Armstrong.

John has a Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management from Briercrest College, Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology from the University of Lethbridge and a Masters in Sports Science from the United States Sports Academy.

John’s hope as a coach is to provide an environment where athletes experience a stretching of their character and a continual growth mindset. An athlete's love of the sport, a genuine caring for their teammates, a relationship with their coaches and a continual desire for competition is a sign of success for any team John coaches.

John is currently the Farm Manager at Riemersma Family Farms Ltd in Armstrong and has 4 kids, Cash, Mila, Lucy and Remington, with his wife Candice.

Marcy Kennedy

13UG-White, Coach

Dalen Quinton

13UG-White, Assistant

Bernie Ramus

13UG-Grey, Coach

TBC

13UG-Grey, Coach

Cory Hoard

12UG-Blue, Coach

Cory has played volleyball all his life including many years of beach and grass volleyball. He has coached elementary and junior high volleyball teams since 2005 and coached Sky Volleyball the last two years

Cory grew up in Vernon and is very passionate about this community and being involved in a number of kid sports. He has been a police officer for 17 years and understands the importance of keeping our youth engaged in sports and a maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Jeremy Wilson

12UG-Blue, Assistant

Jeremy joined the SKY Nation in 2017 as a spectator, has coached one of the boys teams since 2018 and served on the SKY Board since 2019.

Jeremy hopes to be part of the SKY Nation for many years to come!!

Jason Nazar

12UG-White, Coach

Jason has been involved in Volleyball most of his life. Growing up on Vancouver Island he played at all levels of indoor from the school side, to club, to starting middle at Camosun College and onto a couple seasons at UVic. He also spent many summers on the coastal outdoor beach circuit.

Jason had the opportunity for a season to be the assistant coach to the UVic women’s program and is looking forward to helping establish solid fundamentals with the younger players. Jason hopes all the young players come ready to work hard for the 2020 season and want to have a lot of fun along the way.

Katie Hornoi

12UG-White, Assistant

Jaide Vanderleest

Flight School,
Director & Coach

Bree Vanderleest

Flight School,
Director & Coach

Gabriel Gock

Flight School,
Assistant Coach

Ava Lee-Gock

Flight School,
Assistant

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