Coach: Bob Mann

After playing competitive rugby for over 15 years, Bob must have taken one knock-in-the-head too many, as he decided his future might be safer as a coach. In 1989 he started coaching his daughter's fastball team. The girls still tell him he should have stayed with rugby!

Since he got the coaching bug, he has helped start the Medway High School rugby team and worked with both his daughters in successful competitive fastball careers as an NCCP Level II coach.

In 1998, when his second daughter had just joined the club, FCVC had more qualified teams than it had coaches, so Bob stepped up and offered to help. With some great mentoring from Coach Peckham and patience from the athletes, Bob has earned his Volleyball Level II Coaching certificate.

Since then, he has coached three U15 teams, four U16 teams, six U14 teams and two U12 teams. He has coached at regional clinics, a U18 team at the 2004 Ontario Summer Games and at the U16 Summer Games. He has traveled with teams to New Zealand, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Ohio. The next trip is planned for the Western Canadian Open in Calgary.

Bob feels strongly about giving every athlete a chance to play and improve throughout the season. "Medals are only earned if the whole team contributes to the win."

Bob is also involved in our club as a board member, having responsibilities that include Chair of Youth Development. He has run 11 years of elementary school tournaments that have recruited scores of new athletes.

His newest title is President of Region 3, representing all volleyball athletes in southwestern Ontario at the OVA.

Coach Mann is proud to see many of the athletes he has worked with over the years are now playing for college and university teams. Some have graduated and returned as FC club coaches. Every minute has been enjoyed.

Here's hoping there will be more in the future.