Update: Shannon Winzer named women’s head coach
DECEMBER 07, 2020 : Volleyball Canada is pleased to announce that Shannon Winzer will be the women’s indoor team’s new head coach, after serving as the NextGen/senior team assistant coach for the program since April 2019.
“I’m very honoured and extremely excited to be named the next head coach for team Canada,” said Winzer. “The potential of this current group of athletes, as well as all the athletes coming up our pathway, was the single biggest factor in deciding to move back home from Australia to work with team Canada.”
Winzer will begin her new role in January 2021, and she replaces Tom Black who recently stepped down due to professional and family scheduling issues.
“Tom has done an outstanding job with this program and has laid a solid foundation upon which we can continue to build on,” explained Winzer. “There is no doubt that we are moving in the right direction, working towards great things, which I’m optimistic will lead to future Olympic qualification.”
Winzer, originally from British Columbia, previously served as Volleyball Australia’s Women’s National Team head coach. Also the Volleyball Australia Centre of Excellence head coach, Winzer was named Volleyball Australia’s National Coach of the Year for 2016-7. During her time in Australia, she also served as an assistant national team coach, and as the women’s U23 team coach. She also coached at Melbourne University and various elite teams and clubs.
Winzer is a graduate of the University of British Columbia (2002), where she played on the varsity team. She also played professional volleyball in Europe. After a move to Australia, she joined the Women’s Australian Volleyball League (WAVL) and captained the Melbourne University Blues for almost four years and was on the Australian national team in 2008 and ’09.
“We are confident that Shannon’s background will bring a unique perspective to the program, and we’re excited that she has accepted the challenge to keep the team moving in the right direction on the international stage,” said Volleyball Canada indoor high performance director Julien Boucher. “National team podium results are the ultimate goal, and it’s also important that Shannon maintain her engagement with the athlete development process on the women’s side to ensure the long-term success of the program.”
The women’s team qualified for FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) for the first time after winning the qualifying tournament in 2019, but failed in its bid to represent Canada at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Winzer is based at the women’s training centre in Richmond, B.C. and lives in the Vancouver area with her husband and three children: “I would like to thank Volleyball Canada for this incredible opportunity, as well as all those who have supported me on my coaching journey to this point, including my very supportive and amazing family.”
Photo: Kevin Light/Volleyball Canada
Volleyball Canada media contact:
Jackie Skender
Mobile: 613.794.7676