By Rob Schellenberg

Front banner (left to right): Nolan Weinmaster, Stan Peters. Photo by Rob Schellenberg.

Nolan Weinmaster joined an elite peer group this season.

Weinmaster, the head coach of Briercrest College and Seminary’s volleyball team, was selected as the women’s volleyball Coach of the Year for the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference.

He is the first women’s volleyball coach from Briercrest to win the award. Other Clipper coaches to receive the honour are Barrett Kropf (hockey 2005-2006), Calvin Watson (hockey 2007-2008), Stan Peters (basketball 1996-1997), James Clark (basketball 1996-1997), and James Koop (men’s volleyball 1998-1999).

Weinmaster is humbled, but pleased that the other coaches in the league would consider him worthy of the recognition.

“It’s an honour for sure,” he said. “It’s nice to be recognized by other coaches—especially the ones that have good programs. Other coaches know how hard it is to build a program.”

Each ACAC coach selects and ranks their top three coaches, and the award goes to the top-ranked coach.

Several coaches that Weinmaster respects came up to him at the provincial championships and acknowledged how much he deserved the award.

Stan Peters, Briercrest’s athletic director, knows why the young leader was recognized by his coaching peers.

“Nolan has a strong knowledge of the game, a gift for teaching, and a passion to live his life and faith with purpose and intention,” Peters said. The award was announced to the team just before they boarded the bus for the provincial championships this year.

“Our team was really excited about it,” Weinmaster said, remembering his players’ reactions.

They weren’t alone.

“I was surprised and excited for sure,” the fourth year coach said, adding that he immediately thought about how much his team deserved the award.

“The girls worked so hard at improving.”

The team worked hard all year, but Weinmaster said that attitude and talent were also key to their success. Returning “seven players that had an impact last year” was also important.

The coach noted that Carlee Leclerc and Ashley Streuber were two returnees who were able to step up their play this year.

“Those two took on big roles,” he said.

He also noted the consistent leadership of outside hitter Lindsay Wood and the strong play of his team’s middles.

“We got a lot of confidence from having Kayla [Bruce] and Lex [Alexis Loewen] in the middle. We probably had the best middle combination in the league,” he said.

“We had a strength that other teams didn’t have.”

Weinmaster was presented with his award at the annual athletic banquet held in Edwards Chapel March 25.