🏐 2023 Coaches

TARA DUNSMORE – U13 White – Head Coach

This is Tara’s fifth year coaching with the Park Girls Volleyball Club and second as a U13 head coach. She is a trained Development Coach with Volleyball Alberta.

Tara has successfully earned two diplomas from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, including Personal Fitness Trainer.  As part of this path at NAIT, she took courses in Movement Mechanics, Physiology of Exercise, Nutrition, Applied Physiology of Exercise, Functional Training and Assessment, Resistance Training and Assessment and received her AFLCA (Alberta Fitness Leadership Certification Association) and CPAFLA (Canadian Physical Activity and Lifestyle Approach) certifications.

Being involved in the sport of volleyball for over 30 years, Tara brings with her a wealth of experience and knowledge.  She began coaching volleyball during the 1998/1999 season as an assistant coach for the NAIT women’s volleyball team while completing her Personal Fitness Training diploma.  It was not until recently that she continued her passion for coaching volleyball when her oldest daughter was eligible to play volleyball in Junior High school. A highlight coaching was finishing top 10 in each 13U Volleyball Alberta Premier tournament in 2022. Including 3rd, 4th, and 6th place respectively in her first year ever as a Head Coach. Tara has also coached 3 seasons for the Lakeland Ridge’s Jr. & Sr. girls volleyball teams along with her husband Patrick.  Together, their primary goal is the long-term player development of their athletes by focusing on strong fundamental and technical skills.  In addition to coaching volleyball, Tara has coached four seasons of soccer at the U6 and U8 age level where she completed a Canadian Soccer Association course for developmental athletes.

Tara played the setter position for NAIT during her 3 seasons from 1995-1998.  In her final season, she was awarded the Silver Torch Award as the team’s Most Valuable Player. In that same year, she was selected to the All-Star team for the ACAC North Division.  You will still find Tara enjoying the sport that has been such a huge part of her life as she continues to play in competitive leagues in Edmonton.

PATRICK DUNSMORE – U13 White – Assistant Coach

This is Patrick’s fifth year with the Park Girls Volleyball Club and his fifth year coaching with our U13 girl’s program.

Patrick has been heavily involved in athletics his entire life. While growing up in Calgary he played every sport possible, winning City Championships in soccer, basketball, and hockey. He was introduced to volleyball in Jr. High and immediately developed a passion for the sport which has carried forward over 30 years later. From grade 7 through grade 11 he played as a setter, and after a growth spurt throughout High School, he eventually transitioned into an outside hitter for Grade 12. In 1996 he was a walk-on for the SAIT Trojan men’s volleyball team where he competed for four seasons in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC). Over the span of those four years playing for the Trojans, he helped build the men’s volleyball program from 2nd last place in the ACAC South Division, to become the No. 1 ranked team in Canada.

After moving to Edmonton in the summer of 1999, he became involved in several Men’s, Co-ed, and Beach volleyball leagues where he eventually met his wife, Tara. Together they shared the same love of the sport and competed in local leagues & tournaments throughout Western Canada for more than a decade, winning 10 Tier 1 league championships and multiple co-ed tournaments. They are now sharing their same passion for the sport of volleyball with their 3 daughters while residing in Sherwood Park.

As a coach, Patrick is focused on long-term player development with an emphasis on proper technique and fundamental skills. He demands the best from his players through constant effort while keeping a positive team culture. Patrick’s vision for his players is to achieve both individual and team success, and he prides himself on his outstanding ability to bring out his player’s full potential as confident athletes while challenging them to become stronger mentally as well as physically. Patrick has also been coaching for the Lakeland Ridge Wolves Jr. & Sr. girls volleyball teams along with his wife Tara for 3 seasons. Prior to coaching volleyball, Patrick gained valuable experience coaching 16 seasons of soccer for the SPDSA, 5 of those as head coach with the girl’s Phoenix program. Patrick holds multiple Canadian Soccer Association coaching certificates and is a Trained Development Coach with Volleyball Canada. A highlight of his coaching career was winning back-to-back Division 1 Volleyball Alberta Premier tournaments in 2022 with his U14 girl’s team.

As a player, Patrick has achieved impressive team and individual success. Partnering with Mike Funk in 1999, they were the Alberta Men’s Beach Doubles Provincial Champions. While competing for SAIT, he was part of the 1999 ACAC Provincial bronze medalist, 2001 ACAC Provincial silver medalist, and 2001 CCAA National silver medalist teams. His individual accomplishments include being named the SAIT Men’s Volleyball team Most Valuable Player for the 1997/1998 & 1998/1999 seasons, being selected to the ACAC All-Conference team for the 1997/1998 & 1998/1999 seasons, and being awarded All-Tournament Team honors at the CCAA 2001 National Championship. Patrick also still currently holds 3 ACAC individual statistic records.

DENNIS DALZIEL – U13 White – Assistant Coach

This is Dennis’ second year with the Park Girls Volleyball Club and his second year coaching with our U13 girl’s program.

Dennis grew up in Prince Albert Saskatchewan where he was introduced to many sports at a young age including most school sports along with hockey, waterskiing and wakeboarding. Dennis started his volleyball adventure at an early age and played with multiple clubs in Saskatchewan competing and winning both the Saskatchewan Winter Games and Western Canada Summer Games in 1999.

Dennis played on the Saskatchewan provincial volleyball team from 1995 – 1999 before leaving for college and playing 2 years in the ACAC with the Lethbridge College Kodiaks. In 2001 Dennis ventured onto the beach circuit and competed on the very first Saskatchewan beach volleyball team at the Canada Summer Games in London Ontario.

Once entering the work force Dennis stayed active with Volleyball playing on both men’s and co-ed teams with the Edmonton Volleyball Association. Due to other work and life commitments, Dennis left the sport of volleyball but is excited to come back and give back to the sport that gave him so much.

Megan Isbister – U13 Isbister – Head Coach

This is Megan’s first year coaching with the Park Girls Volleyball Club.

Megan has played volleyball for 25 plus years. She started playing in grade 7, falling in love with the sport. She played as a setter throughout junior and senior high school.  Athletics have always been an integral part of Megan’s life.  During her university years, she went on and played Provincial Team Handball and trained with the National Team one summer.  Even during her years of training for handball, she always played competitive volleyball in the EVA women’s league.

Megan coached senior girls at the high school level for several years before having kids.  She has 3 school aged children, and all of them live very active lives playing soccer, hockey, and volleyball.  Megan teaches Mathematics at Bev Facey Community High School and is currently coaching the junior girls’ volleyball team. As a coach she loves engaging with her athletes, teaching them the fundamentals of the sport, pushing them to their fullest potential, and seeing the progress unfold over a season.

“The best part of coaching is seeing the development of players over the course of a season. Looking forward to seeing all our girls develop.”

Jill Mellor – U13 Black – Assistant Coach

Bio coming soon…

GREG ELLIS – U14 – Head Coach

This is Greg’s second year with the Park Girls Volleyball Club and his first year coaching our U14 girl’s program.

Greg first started coaching volleyball as an assistant at Peace River High School in 1995. As a college athlete he went on to coach a variety of youth summer and weekend camps all across Alberta. For the past 16 years Greg has coached volleyball, basketball, and badminton in Blackgold School Division. He has also coached beach volleyball on various occasions including the Alberta Summer Games in 2010.

A true “gym rat” from Peace River, Alberta, Greg played any and every sport possible, eventually choosing to play varsity volleyball, playing 3 seasons in the ACAC, primarily at Grant MacEwan. Until recently he played in adult leagues as well as beach leagues and tournaments with coach Steve Kutt.

Greg’s coaching philosophy has always been quite simple: work hard and have fun!

RYAN MARSHALL – U14 Assistant Coach

Ryan Marshall is a Certified Advanced Development Coach for Volleyball. He has his Bachelor of Physical Education, Bachelor of Education and Masters of Education Degrees from the University of Alberta.

Ryan has been coaching volleyball for over 20 years. His coaching resume includes 4 years of coaching U18 Men’s Club volleyball with both The Bears program as well as Park Elite Boys Volleyball Club. He has coached in 4 national championships, coaching his team to the tier-one national semi-finals. Ryan has also coached high school senior men’s programs for 7 years. A highlight of his high school coaching career was winning a 3A provincial championship. Most recently he has coached junior high girls volleyball at both the senior and junior levels. During the 2018-19 volleyball season, his Lakeland Ridge senior girls team won the EIPS large school championship for the first time in school history. Ryan has also been involved in coaching volleyball camps for students as young as 10 years old.

Ryan started playing volleyball for F.R. Haythorne junior high school in grade 7. In grade 10 he started every game, as a right side, for the Bev Facey Falcons senior team and by grade 12 he became captain of his high school team. He also played club volleyball throughout junior high and high school. Although two colleges approached him to play post-secondary, Ryan decided to attend U of A to complete his education degree and began his coaching career. Since then, he has played on competitive men’s and coed adult teams. Ryan recently hung up his playing shoes to spend his time coaching.

Along with volleyball, Ryan has experience coaching basketball, soccer and ball hockey.

Ryan looks forward to his fourth year with the Park Girls Volleyball Club and assisting the U14 team. Ryan believes that it is imperative that young volleyball players develop the proper skills and techniques while growing a passion and love for the game. Sportsmanship, teamwork and building character is essential to the success of his teams.

PATRICK DUNSMORE – U15 White – Head Coach

This is Patrick’s fifth year with the Park Girls Volleyball Club and his fourth year as head coach.

Patrick has been heavily involved in athletics his entire life. While growing up in Calgary he played every sport possible, winning City Championships in soccer, basketball, and hockey. He was introduced to volleyball in Jr. High and immediately developed a passion for the sport which has carried forward over 30 years later. From grade 7 through grade 11 he played as a setter, and after a growth spurt throughout High School, he eventually transitioned into an outside hitter for Grade 12. In 1996 he was a walk-on for the SAIT Trojan men’s volleyball team where he competed for four seasons in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC). Over the span of those four years playing for the Trojans, he helped build the men’s volleyball program from 2nd last place in the ACAC South Division, to become the No. 1 ranked team in Canada.

After moving to Edmonton in the summer of 1999, he became involved in several Men’s, Co-ed, and Beach volleyball leagues where he eventually met his wife, Tara. Together they shared the same love of the sport and competed in local leagues & tournaments throughout Western Canada for more than a decade, winning 10 Tier 1 league championships and multiple co-ed tournaments. They are now sharing their same passion for the sport of volleyball with their 3 daughters while residing in Sherwood Park.

As a coach, Patrick is focused on long-term player development with an emphasis on proper technique and fundamental skills. He demands the best from his players through constant effort while keeping a positive team culture. Patrick’s vision for his players is to achieve both individual and team success, and he prides himself on his outstanding ability to bring out his player’s full potential as confident athletes while challenging them to become stronger mentally as well as physically. Patrick has also been coaching for the Lakeland Ridge Wolves Jr. & Sr. girls volleyball teams along with his wife Tara for 3 seasons. Prior to coaching volleyball, Patrick gained valuable experience coaching 16 seasons of soccer for the SPDSA, 5 of those as head coach with the girl’s Phoenix program. Patrick holds multiple Canadian Soccer Association coaching certificates and is a Trained Development Coach with Volleyball Canada. A highlight of his coaching career was winning back-to-back Division 1 Volleyball Alberta Premier tournaments in 2022 with his U14 girl’s team.

As a player, Patrick has achieved impressive team and individual success. Partnering with Mike Funk in 1999, they were the Alberta Men’s Beach Doubles Provincial Champions. While competing for SAIT, he was part of the 1999 ACAC Provincial bronze medalist, 2001 ACAC Provincial silver medalist, and 2001 CCAA National silver medalist teams. His individual accomplishments include being named the SAIT Men’s Volleyball team Most Valuable Player for the 1997/1998 & 1998/1999 seasons, being selected to the ACAC All-Conference team for the 1997/1998 & 1998/1999 seasons, and being awarded All-Tournament Team honors at the CCAA 2001 National Championship. Patrick also still currently holds 3 ACAC individual statistic records.

TARA DUNSMORE – U15 White – Assistant Coach

This is Tara’s fifth year of assistant coaching with the Park Girls Volleyball Club and is a trained Development Coach with Volleyball Alberta.

Tara has successfully earned two diplomas from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, including Personal Fitness Trainer.  As part of this path at NAIT, she took courses in Movement Mechanics, Physiology of Exercise, Nutrition, Applied Physiology of Exercise, Functional Training and Assessment, Resistance Training and Assessment and received her AFLCA (Alberta Fitness Leadership Certification Association) and CPAFLA (Canadian Physical Activity and Lifestyle Approach) certifications.

Being involved in the sport of volleyball for over 30 years, Tara brings with her a wealth of experience and knowledge.  She began coaching volleyball during the 1998/1999 season as an assistant coach for the NAIT women’s volleyball team while completing her Personal Fitness Training diploma.  It was not until recently that she continued her passion for coaching volleyball when her oldest daughter was eligible to play volleyball in Junior High school. A highlight coaching was finishing top 10 in each 13U Volleyball Alberta Premier tournament in 2022. Including 3rd, 4th, and 6th place respectively in her first year ever as a Head Coach. Tara has also coached 3 seasons for the Lakeland Ridge’s Jr. & Sr. girls volleyball teams along with her husband Patrick.  Together, their primary goal is the long-term player development of their athletes by focusing on strong fundamental and technical skills.  In addition to coaching volleyball, Tara has coached four seasons of soccer at the U6 and U8 age level where she completed a Canadian Soccer Association course for developmental athletes.

Tara played the setter position for NAIT during her 3 seasons from 1995-1998.  In her final season, she was awarded the Silver Torch Award as the team’s Most Valuable Player. In that same year, she was selected to the All-Star team for the ACAC North Division.  You will still find Tara enjoying the sport that has been such a huge part of her life as she continues to play in competitive leagues in Edmonton.

Zak Weber – U15 White – Assistant Coach

This is Zak’s fourth year with the Park Girls Volleyball club and his sixth season of coaching volleyball.

He is currently in his third year at the University of Alberta working on a Bachelor of Science degree in Honors Physiology with the intent to pursue Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He is academically driven and as a result, was named valedictorian for his High School in 2020, as well as making the Dean’s List in University.

He fell in love with volleyball in Junior High which led to him playing in high school as well as on various other club teams. Over that time, he has played middle, right side, and his favourite position, libero. During his youth, he received the junior high MVP award in 2016, Tournament All-Star for the Tri-Volley invitational in 2018, and MVP for his High School in 2019. He currently plays beach volleyball in the summer and is on a Coed team in the winter.

Athletics have been an integral part of Zak’s life and he’s played many different sports. He won athlete of the year with his Junior high school as well as Elk Island Public School’s outstanding Athlete for Jr boys Track and field in 2016. He also enjoys soccer which he has played for 15 years. Notably winning gold in the Schwan’s USA Cup, winning gold and medalling in multiple Alberta provincials, leading a youth Canada team that played soccer in Fiji, and recently winning gold in the 2022 Heritage cup representing Fiji. He received most valuable player in 2016 for his club team and the “hardest worker” award for his high school team in 2019 and 2020. He received 6 offers to play post-secondary soccer, 3 in Canada and 3 in the United States which he turned down to work on completing his degree. He’s always had a competitive spirit and prides himself in working hard for success, regardless of what the competition is. With this mindset he has also won two junior high swing dance competitions in 2014 and 2015 and placed first in the western provincial open karate tournament. He has recently started cycling and hopes to pursue it further.

As a coach and based on personal success, Zak stresses how important hard work and mental resilience are to achieve success in volleyball as well as in other aspects in life. He loves working with athletes that have an intrinsic motivation to get better every single day and it brings him joy to see them progress and achieve success.

KELLY SOPROVICH – U15 White – Assistant Coach

This is Kelly’s second year coaching with the Park Girls Volleyball Club, and his first assisting our U15 girl’s team.

Kelly grew up in the small town of Two Hills, Alberta where he was lucky enough to play every school sport (volleyball, basketball, curling, track, badminton), competing in many of these at the zone and provincial level.  His love for all sports, teams, and competition earned him the Male Athlete of the Year award for his High School graduating class.

From a young age, volleyball was always Kelly’s top passion.  Whether it be on his Jr. High or High School team, traveling to play on Club teams in bigger towns, playing with his parents in an adult volleyball league as a teen, or playing in beach volleyball tournaments. Kelly was always enjoying the sport.

When Kelly moved to Edmonton for post-secondary education, he played for the NAIT Ooks Men’s volleyball team for 3 seasons.  Playing at NAIT awarded him the opportunity to travel across Western Canada, as well as Tournaments in Toronto and California where he played with and against players he is still friends with to this day.  After his college career came to an end he was a founding member of a men’s league team in the EVA that went on to win 10 Edmonton Volleyball Association Division 1 titles.  When his father passed away, Kelly, along with family and friends hosted the annual Dennis Soprovich Memorial Volleyball tournament raising over $120,000 for Cancer Research.

Kelly’s love of sports continued after having children and has head coached and assistant coached his kids’ teams in soccer, baseball, ball hockey, ice hockey, and volleyball.  Kelly believes in player development and teaching kids life skills that will carry them through the rest of their lives.  Volleyball has given him a lot over the years and this is his opportunity to give back to the sport he loves.

RYAN JEWELL – U15 Black – Head Coach

This is Ryan’s first year coaching with Park Girls Volleyball Club. He is excited to bring 25+ years of coaching experience to the U15 program.

Ryan has lived in Sherwood Park his entire life and has been heavily involved in the community through sports, volunteering, and operating businesses. Ryan has also been involved in the community. He was a founding member of the “Strathcona Youth Leadership Council”. Served as the youngest Sherwood Park and District Chamber of Commerce president. He has served as president of the County Clothesline board and also on the Sherwood Park Baseball board as Treasurer.

Ryan started his own volleyball career in grade 5 as a Hawk at the original St Theresa school. He played all the way through to grade 12 at Archbishop Jordan where he was named Men’s Volleyball MVP, and Male Athlete of the Year. He is still planning on continuing his volleyball career but is waiting for his growth spurt to kick in…

Ryan started coaching volleyball at ABJ right after he graduated. He even taught current 16U Coach Ryan Marshall everything he knew as a player, and then brought him on as an assistant coach. They coached ABJ to the only male Provincial Championship in school history. Over the years Ryan has also coached volleyball, basketball, baseball, and rugby, winning multiple provincial and league championships. Recently Ryan has returned to coaching volleyball at St Theresa and the ABJ grade 9 teams, helping to win multiple tournaments and championships. Last year he co-coached Ft. Sask Sonic, a new girl’s program, where they finished top 3rd in the province. Ryan is looking forward to taking what he learned coaching a club team last year and putting it to work for Park.

BRETT MOCHULSKI – U15 Black – Assistant Coach

This is Brett’s first year coaching with Park Girls Volleyball Club.

Brett has been very involved in athletics his entire life. While in middle school attending St. Theresa, he played volleyball, basketball, badminton, hockey, track and field, and cross country. Once in high school Brett decided to focus only on volleyball were played on the Sr men’s team all 3 years. He has played 5 years of club volleyball for several different clubs including Park Elite, NAVC, CVC and FOG. Brett was also a part of the Zone 5 boys volleyball team that went on to compete at the Alberta Winter Games in 2020. In high school Brett was on the Archbishop Jordan Sr. men’s team that went on to compete at 4A provincials in 2019.

Brett has received coaches awards on 6 of the sports teams he has been a part of throughout school and has been a captain on 7 of the school/club teams over the years. He has always been a leader and competitor on and off the court and has had a love for sports his whole life, especially volleyball since grade 8.

Brett graduated in 2022 and made his coaching debut this fall with the Archbishop Jordan grade 9 girls team. Brett is currently taking a gap year and spending his time working and coaching. In 2023 he hopes to play post-secondary volleyball and get his Bachelor of Education degree to become a high school teacher, and eventually a phys-ed coordinator.

Brett looks forward to continuing coaching and sharing his knowledge and love for volleyball.

MACKENZIE ROY – U15 Black – Assistant Coach

This is Mackenzie’s first year with Park Girls Volleyball Club, and her first season of coaching volleyball.

Mackenzie will be attending Georgian College to play for the Grizzlies in the OCAA in the fall of 2023. She will be working on her Degree to become a Dental Hygienist, while playing as a Setter on the Women’s Varsity team.

Mackenzie has always been involved with athletics, playing competitive soccer, basketball, volleyball, and handball. She fell in love with volleyball in Jr. High and committed to playing the sport full time throughout Jr. and Sr. High school. Mackenzie played 5 years of Club volleyball for multiple teams which include Park Girls Volleyball, Nooks, NAVC and FOG. She graduated in 2022 and is currently taking a gap-year where she’s been spending time coaching at Archbishop Jordan catholic school and now with our 15U girls. Mackenzie is currently working full time until leaving in the fall to continue her volleyball journey.

RYAN MARSHALL – U16 Head Coach

Ryan Marshall is a Certified Advanced Development Coach for Volleyball. He has his Bachelor of Physical Education, Bachelor of Education and Masters of Education Degrees from the University of Alberta.

Ryan has been coaching volleyball for over 20 years. His coaching resume includes 4 years of coaching U18 Men’s Club volleyball with both The Bears program as well as Park Elite Boys Volleyball Club. He has coached in 4 national championships, coaching his team to the tier-one national semi-finals. Ryan has also coached high school senior men’s programs for 7 years. A highlight of his high school coaching career was winning a 3A provincial championship. Most recently he has coached junior high girls volleyball at both the senior and junior levels. During the 2018-19 volleyball season, his Lakeland Ridge senior girls team won the EIPS large school championship for the first time in school history. Ryan has also been involved in coaching volleyball camps for students as young as 10 years old.

Ryan started playing volleyball for F.R. Haythorne junior high school in grade 7. In grade 10 he started every game, as a right side, for the Bev Facey Falcons senior team and by grade 12 he became captain of his high school team. He also played club volleyball throughout junior high and high school. Although two colleges approached him to play post-secondary, Ryan decided to attend U of A to complete his education degree and began his coaching career. Since then, he has played on competitive men’s and coed adult teams. Ryan recently hung up his playing shoes to spend his time coaching.

Along with volleyball, Ryan has experience coaching basketball, soccer and ball hockey.

Ryan looks forward to his fourth year with the Park Girls Volleyball Club and coaching the U16 team. Ryan believes that it is imperative that young volleyball players develop the proper skills and techniques while growing a passion and love for the game. Sportsmanship, teamwork and building character is essential to the success of his teams.

SHAWN CROSBY – U16 Assistant Coach

This is Shawn’s third year with the Park Girls Volleyball Club, after two years of coaching with the Park Elite Volleyball Club. Shawn began playing volleyball in grade five while living in the Okanagan. He has played volleyball for 20+ years in youth and adult leagues in the Okanagan and in Edmonton. He also competed in track, BMX, basketball, rugby, football and soccer, and he coached his two kids’ indoor and outdoor soccer teams for 6 seasons. When not playing or coaching volleyball Shawn can be found on one of his many bikes…mountain, fat, or spin. He is a level 2 C.O.R.E. certified spin instructor currently teaching at Exist Fitness in Sherwood Park (via Zoom).

Shawn earned his Bachelor of Phys. Ed and Bachelor of Ed. degrees from the U of A. Classes included both 100 and 300 level Volleyball, Athletic Injuries, Sports Psychology, Coaching, Biomechanics, and many more. For the past 11 years, Shawn has been working in pre-school education.

In recent years, Shawn has been challenging himself mentally and physically with endurance mountain bike racing. He has competed in many team and solo races in 6, 8, and 24hr distances, including a 3rd and a 1st place finish in solo 24hrs.

Shawn’s top priority when coaching is to create a positive and fun environment where athletes feel comfortable challenging themselves to constantly improve. For Shawn, effort and coachability are key attributes he looks for in athletes.

JULIA SLOMP – U16 Assistant Coach

Bio coming soon…

STEVE KUTT – U17 Head Coach

Steve Kutt is a Certified Advanced Development Coach through the Coaching Association of Canada. He has been the head coach of eight seasons of women’s club volleyball teams (Edmonton AB area, and Houston TX area) ranging in age categories from U13 – U17. He has coached in two USAV national championship tournaments and two Canada West national championship tournaments. Steve has also been to various coaching conferences during his time in Texas. Also, every year since 2002, Steve has been a head coach of the junior high school he teaches at (Webster, Texas 2002-2005 and now Fort Saskatchewan, AB 2005-current). During this time Steve has gained experience coaching both boys and girls teams.

Steve fell in love with the game of volleyball when he participated as a young athlete in a summer volleyball camp back in 1992. This introduction to volleyball led him to try out for his high school volleyball team, which by grade 12 he captained and eventually won a 3A provincial title (Lacombe Composite High School, 1995). During this time Steve played on club teams (Lacombe U16, and Red Deer College U17 and U18) that were highly ranked in Canada and played in tournaments as far-reaching as Orlando, Florida. Steve went on to play college for the MacEwan Griffins Men’s Volleyball team that was ranked as high as 4thin Canada. Steve still plays in local competitive indoor and beach leagues.

MacEwan was where Steve got his first taste of coaching volleyball at one of the college’s summer sports camps. While working toward his Bachelor of Physical Education and his Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Alberta, Steve was an assistant men’s volleyball coach for a season at Louis St. Laurent Catholic High School and for a season at Harry Ainlay High School in Edmonton. Steve has also been involved in coaching various summer camps such as the U of A volleyball camps and Next Step Continuing Education Camps.

All in all, Steve has been involved in coaching volleyball for 20 years which includes 26 different seasons/teams coached. Steve became a Park Girls Volleyball Coach in 2017 and continues to enjoy his time as a head coach of the club.

JENNIFER KUTT – U17 Assistant Coach

Jen Kutt is a Certified Advanced Development Coach through Volleyball Canada, an In Training Coach through Canada Basketball, and a Certified Level 2 NCCP Coach.

Jen has her Bachelor of Physical Education and Bachelor of Education Degrees from the University of Alberta.  During her time at U of A, she took courses such as Analysis and Instruction of Volleyball, Introduction to Sports Injury Management, Advanced Sports Injury Management, Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, and The Application of Psychological Skills to Sport and Physical Activity among others.

Jen started coaching volleyball in 1998.  She has head coached three intermediate school seasons while in Texas, head coached one junior high school season, assistant coached for two junior high school seasons (most recently the 2019 F.R. Haythorne Junior Girls), and co-coached eight club seasons at the age groups of U14 (SSVC Texas), U16 (SEEVC Edmonton), 

U17 (SSVC Texas and FOG Edmonton), and U13-U15 (Park Girls Volleyball).  She also has experience coaching youth soccer, track & field, and basketball.

Jen started playing volleyball for Fultonvale Junior High School in grade 7.  By grade 12 she became the captain of her high school team, the Ardrossan Lady Bisons.  Since then, she has played on competitive women’s and coed adult teams every year, including a few seasons of beach volleyball.

Along with volleyball, Jen has experience playing high school level basketball, team handball, rugby, and soccer – winning city and provincial titles in many of these sports.

DENNIS WEBER – U17 Assistant Coach

Dennis started playing volleyball in junior high and continued in high school where he captained his team in his senior year (1988 Sturgeon Composite High School). When he was 16, he joined his coaches’ men’s team and played tier-one men’s ball and went on to finish second in provincials with that team (senior men’s B division). Dennis has been playing competitive volleyball in Edmonton for the past 30 years.

Dennis has coached soccer at the community and club level for over 19 seasons. The last few years, he has been one of the strength and conditioning coaches for the u17 Phoenix boys soccer team, which won bronze at provincials in the 2018 season.

Dennis got an opportunity to coach volleyball 6 years ago on his sons’ junior high school team where he served as an assistant coach. The next 2 years, Dennis was the head coach of Fultonvale junior high senior boy’s volleyball team and the last two years was head coach of the girl’s senior team. Dennis started coaching with Park in 2018.

Dennis is an open-minded coach who loves learning. He finished his Master’s Degree in Health Studies (December 2018), and had the opportunity to take courses that focused on leadership and coaching as part of this program. Dennis is interested in the mental side of the game, which has led him to take a course on the psychology of sport performance and is one year into a Master’s program in sport and performance psychology.

Dennis’s philosophy on coaching is simple: Players need knowledge, support and positivity to build confidence and learn new skills. Athletes need a positive supportive environment if they are to grow and develop, and this is what he always strives to provide on the court and in the practice gym.

Jeff Palichuk – U18 – Head Coach

This will be Jeff’s first year coaching at PGVC, however he has been coaching Volleyball for many years at other clubs in the Edmonton area. He has also coached at the Jr. High and Sr. High levels and is currently the Varsity Ladies Head Coach at Strathcona Christian Academy Secondary School. Despite the challenges that COVID brought, he led the SCA team in a very successful season last year! He has coached other community and school sports (baseball, softball, soccer, and archery) as well for the last 15 years.

Jeff, who is certified to coach according to Volleyball Alberta and Volleyball Canada standards, enjoys teaching the technical and tactical side of the game. He encourages players to continually progress in their individual skills, at the same time how to best contribute to team success. He cares about the player as a whole, providing a supportive and encouraging environment to grow, develop, and compete.

Jeff is really excited to join the Park Girls Volleyball family, with hopes to build a strong competitive U18 team for the 2023 season.

Kayla Reierson – U18 – Assistant Coach

Bio coming soon…