2020-2021 COACHING ROSTER

Derek Usman

DEREK USMAN - HEAD COACH - LVC WOMENS KODIAKS

Coach Usman is one of Southern Alberta's most experienced volleyball coaches. In addition to holding certifications that include NCCP Level 3 Theory and Technical; NCCP Level 2 Volleyball Certified; and USAV CAP Level 2, Coach Usman was named the Canadian Deaf Sports Association Coach of the Year in 2016 and the Southern Alberta High School Volleyball Coach of the Year in 2014. He currently serves as Head Coach for the Canadian National Deaf Women's Volleyball Team, a role he has held since 2014, as well as for the Varsity Girls Team at Winston Churchill High School, a role he has held since 2012. Before that, he was the Head Womens volleyball coach at Lethbridge College from 2005 - 2011 and has served in a variety of other coaching roles throughout Southern Alberta since 1995. Last - but certainly not least - Coach Usman is one of the longest serving coaches for Lethbridge Volleyball Club, coaching various teams from 1993 - 2007, in 2012, in 2015, and from 2018 to the present.

Kirsten Krassman

KIRSTEN KRASSMAN - ASST COACH - LVC WOMENS KODIAKS

Coach Krassman is looking forward to returning for her 3rd season as a coach for LVC, where she had previously coached for the U15 and U16 girls teams. In addition, she has been assistant coach for the Chinook High School Grade 9 boys team. She is also an experienced volleyball player, having competed throughout middle school and at Eagle Butte High School outside Medicine Hat. "

Jordyn Bryant

JORDYN BRYANT - COACH - U17/18 GIRLS

This will be Coach Bryant's second season coaching with LVC. However, she has been coaching for the last 5 years as an Assistant Coach at Chinook High School and LVC and as a head coach for Flare, Kate Andrews High School and now LVC. She has played both school and club volleyball growing up and is excited to continue to learn and grow as a coach. She has always had a passion for the sport, health, and competition and is looking forward to giving back her knowledge as a coach. She also played for the U of L's Women's Fast Pitch team for the past 2 years and is excited to bring her experience as an athlete at a competitive level. She is currently in her fourth year at University of Lethbridge as a Kinesiology/Education student and is working to complete her combined degree and soon become a Physical Education teacher. She looks forward to bringing a positive attitude to the volleyball program and couldn't be more excited to be a part of the team again.

Clayton Ressler

CLAYTON RESSLER - CO-COACH - U16 GIRLS BLUE

Coach Ressler is returning for his 3rd season coaching with LVC, and he brings a variety of valuable experiences as an athlete and coach to the role. As a PE teacher and Athletic Director at Kate Andrews High School in Coaldale, he has coached many sports, including volleyball, track and field, cross-county, and badminton. Volleyball is one of his favorite sports. He has coached both club and school volleyball for 8 years ranging from U13 to U17 girls teams. He looks forward to returning to the court to co-coach with Cassandra and working with the talented LVC players this season.

Cassandra Kawa

CASSANDRA KAWA - CO-COACH - U16 GIRLS BLUE

This is Coach Kawa's second season as a coach with LVC. She brings with her the incomparable experience of 4 seasons as a starter with Indiana State University, a NCAA Division 1 team. The 6' middle blocker played in 100 sets over 28 matches in her final season with ISU, averaging 2.16 kills per set and posting a .227 attack percent. In high school, she played at Catholic Central High School in Lethbridge, where she was named a first team all-star 3 times and was named the most valuable player in her senior season. She played with LVC, Lethbridge Flare and Team Alberta, where she helped the U16 team to a bronze medal finish and U17 team to a gold medal finish. She is looking forward to returning to coaching along side Coach Ressler this year.

Danica Chabot

dANICA CHABOT - HEAD COACH - U16 GIRLS WHITE

BIO COMING SOON!

Chris Baxter

CHRIS BAXTER - ASST COACH - U16 GIRLS WHITE

This will be Coach Baxter’s first year coaching with LVC, but he brings many years of coaching background with him. During his 14 years teaching, he has had the opportunity to coach many sports including Basketball, Track and Field, Badminton and Volleyball. He is currently in his 4th year coaching the Sr. High Girls Volleyball team at FP Walshe in Fort Macleod. Before that he had spent 4 years coaching volleyball at the middle school level. Coach Baxter brings great excitement for coaching and volleyball this year and looks forward to working with LVC.

Parker Bijl

PARKER BIJL - COACH - U15/16 GIRLS

This is Parker Bijl's first year coaching with LVC, but brings many years coaching experience with him. He is currently a 6th year Kinesiology/Education student with the hopes of being a Physical Education teacher this Fall. His athletic background includes years of football, track and field, and of course volleyball. Over the past 6 years, he has spent his time coaching hurdles and community football programs throughout Calgary. Coach Parker is looking forward to bringing contagious energy, demonstrating positive leadership, and implementing a dedicated work ethic to the U15/16 Girls Volleyball program.

Tess Mcnaughton

TESS MCNAUGHTON - ASST. COACH - U15/16 GIRLS

This is Coach Tess's first year with LVC too! She is a 3rd year General Social Sciences student at the University of Lethbridge. Volleyball has been a huge part of her life, playing since U13, and she is very passionate about expanding and sharing her knowledge and love for the sport. Tess has been an assistant coach in a variety of positions in Calgary and cannot wait to get back on the court!

Zac Neufeld

ZAC NEUFELD - HEAD COACH - U14 GIRLS BLUE

Coach Neufeld, a lifelong recreational and competitive volleyball player, is returning for his 3rd year as an LVC coach. He draws on his experiences as a player, where he spent 2 years playing with the Sundogs Mens Volleyball team at Great Plains College, and as a coach, where he has worked with teams at Immanuel Christian for the past 3 years. He is working towards completing his degree in Kinesiology at the University of Lethbridge and is looking forward to a career working with the community to stay active and healthy.

Melanie Jones

Melanie Jones - ASST COACH - U14 GIRLS BLUE

BIO COMING SOON!

Jamie Puchinger

JAMIE PUCHINGER - HEAD COACH - U13 GIRLS

Growing up in Lethbridge Jamie played volleyball throughout middle and high school including playing for LVC and Team Alberta. She was awarded a scholarship and played in the United States for a year before returning home to play for the Lethbridge College Kodiaks for another 2 years. Jamie continues to play throughout her adult life for the Lethbridge Ladies and Co-Ed Volleyball Leagues and serves on the Executive Committee for the Ladies League. This will be her first year coaching LVC and she is excited to share her love and passion for this sport!

Laurie Hamer

LAURIE HAMER - ASST COACH - U13 GIRLS

BIO Coming soon!

Dan Knop

DAN KNOP - HEAD COACH - LVC MENS KODIAKS

Coach Knop returns to his 4th season coaching with LVC and first year as Head Coach for the LVC Kodiaks team. Previously he had coached at the U15 and U17 levels, and he also brings his experience as a Head Coach at Chinook High School for the past 2 seasons. In addition to bringing a variety of coaching experiences to the role, he will draw on his playing career at the King's University where he received a CCAA National Scholar Award. Coach Knop is known for his knowledge of the game, commitment to the athletes, and ability to lighten the mood when needed.

Zach James

ZACH JAMES - ASST COACH - LVC MENS KODIAKS

BIO COMING SOON!

Kieran Meadows

KIERAN MEADOWS - HEAD COACH - U17 BOYS

This is Coach Meadows 3rd season coaching with LVC. Coach Meadows came to us through the LVC club program as he played throughout middle school and high school for the club. He is an ethusiastic coach and is always looking for opportunities to learn and grow. He is in his 3rd year at the University of Lethbridge and looks forward to another season with the talented LVC athletes.

Malcolm Fisher

MALCOLM FISHER - ASST COACH - U17 BOYS

BIO COMING SOON

Andre Arsenault

ANDRE ARSENAULT - HEAD COACH - U16 BOYS BLUE

Coach Arsenault has come to LVC with over 9 years of coaching experience on top of his extensive playing experience at the Medicine Hat College and MacEwan University , where he was a 2-time ACAC All Conference player, a CCAA Academic All-Canadian, MacEwan record holder and career dig leader in ACAC Mens Volleyball. His coaching experience is equally as impressive as he has worked with various age levels throughout the Province, including leading NAVC teams to Provincial medals on 3 occasions, head coaching 3 different Alberta Winter Games teams, each with a bronze medal finish, and most noteably has served for 3 years as the Director of Volleyball Alberta Summer Camp programs. His love for working with youth, for coaching and for the sport of volleyball is evident as he will be involved in many areas of the community in addition to coaching club. He is also looking forward to his new roles here in Lethbridge as a teacher and coach at Wilson Middle School as well as an Asst. Coach with the Lethbridge College Kodiaks Mens team.

Kris Qually

KRIS QUALLY - ASST COACH - U16 BOYS BLUE

This will be Coach Qually's 3rd season with LVC and he is looking forward to another year of challenge and growth. Along with his coaching experience, Coach Qually brings years of playing experience including playing at the post secondary level for the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University.

Mike Doerksen

MIKE DOERKSEN - ASST COACH - U16 BOYS BLUE

Coach Doerksen is looking forward to returning for his 3rd season with LVC, where he had earlier coached at U14 and U15 boys teams. He has also worked with Coach Rob Wood as an Asst Coach at Gilbert Patterson, and is a player himself, competing in the Lethbridge Co-Ed Volleyball League. Coach Doerksen also draws on his 10 years experience as a soccer coach, and understands the value of cross training and the benefits of challenges of being a multi-sport athlete.

Dave Robinson

DAVE ROBINSON - HEAD COACH - U15 BOYS

Coach Robinson is returning for his second year with LVC. Dave has been involved in competitive volleyball since he was a similar age to these boys. During that time, the game has given him some great experiences from provincial titles to a World Masters gold medal in beach volleyball. Dave has worked with Rob Wood for the LVC U13, U14 boys the last couple years and spent the school season as assistant coach at Gilbert Paterson. He is looking forward to working with the U15 boys this season to further their development and passion for the game.

Patrick Hazelwood

PATRICK HAZELWOOD - ASST COACH - U15 BOYS

Coach Hazelwood has worked with young people in a variety of different roles for more than 25 years. He is an experienced baseball and hockey coach who started coaching with Lethbridge Volleyball Club two years ago. He has completed his Development Coach Workshop training as well as Foundations of Volleyball, Making Ethical Decisions and Making Head Way (concussion training). He looks forward to returning to the court and working with LVC athletes this season!

Rob Wood

ROB WOOD - HEAD COACH - U14 BOYS

Coach Wood is one of Lethbridge's most experienced and decorated volleyball coaches, bringing 27 years of coaching experience with him to the role. His coaching experience includes 5 years coaching the 4A teams at LCI and Winston Churchill High School; 5 years for Alberta Volleyball's 16U Provincial Team; 20 years at Gilbert Patterson Middle School; and more than 10 years with LVC. For LVC, Coach Wood has coached at every level from 13U to 16U and previously served as LVC's Master Coach and Coaching/Technical Director. In addition, he has served in a variety of camp coach, clinician and director roles at Lethbridge College, the University of Lethbridge, Medicine Hat College, AVA Volleyball on Wheels; and HITT; and was a competitive post-secondary player as well.

Jane Groenenboom

JANE GROENENBOOM - ASST COACH - U14 BOYS

This is Coach Groenenboom's first year with LVC although she has had over 10 years of coaching volleyball from beginner level to high school aged kids. For the last 2 years she has coached the Junior Boys at Noble Central School. Coach Groenenboom started playing volleyball herself in Grade 6 and went on to play 2 years for SAIT and still plays in the Lethbridge Ladies Volleyball league. When she is not coaching you can find her working on her family farm north of Lethbridge. Coach Groenenboom is looking forward to assisting Coach Rob and teaching these boys how to learn and grow in the sport of volleyball.