June 21, 2007
BLUES HIRE DRAKICH TO LEAD MEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM
TORONTO, Ont. – The University of Toronto’s Faculty of Physical Education and Health and the Varsity Blues are pleased to announce the appointment of U of T alumnus Ed Drakich as Athletic Instructor and men’s volleyball head coach. An Olympian and former national team member, Drakich becomes the first full-time coach of the Varsity Blues men’s volleyball program.
“This is an exciting time for the Varsity Blues men’s volleyball program,” says Bruce Kidd, Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Health. “The appointment of a full-time faculty member with coaching responsibilities for men’s volleyball will only further enhance our program. Ed Drakich possesses all of the fine qualities we look for in a leader and in a teacher, and we are thrilled to see him return to his alma mater to lead the Blues during this important time of renewal.”
After graduating with honours from U of T’s Chemical Engineering program, Drakich began his university coaching career in 1986-1987 as an assistant with the Calgary Dinos. He helped direct the team to two Canada West finals and a national bronze medal in 1988. He then spent one season as a volunteer assistant coach with the Varsity Blues (1989–1990). In 1993, he accepted the position as head coach of the Scarborough Solars junior men’s team and guided them to two provincial titles and a national medal in three seasons. Drakich then became head coach of Seneca College’s men’s volleyball team. During his five seasons at the helm (1997–2002), he led the previously struggling program to multiple provincial medals, twice earning Coach of the Year honours.
In addition to coaching at the university, college and clubs level, Drakich has been a personal coach/trainer to some of Canada’s finest beach volleyball talents, including Olympic bronze medalists John Child and Mark Heese, as well as Kristine Drakich, Erminia Russo and Guylaine Dumont.
As an athlete, Drakich’s represented Canada in 215 international beach volleyball matches including the 1996 Olympic Games. He represented Canada in 123 international indoor volleyball matches, including the 1987 Pan-American Games and the 1985 FISU World Student Games. Drakich was also a member of TSV 1860 Munchen, a professional indoor volleyball team competing in the West German first division in 1988-1989. Inducted into the U of T Sports Hall of Fame in 2003 as a player, and again in 2006 as a member of the 1982-1983 men’s volleyball team, Drakich was a key member of the Varsity Blues volleyball program from 1981-1985. A four-time OUA all-star and a three-time CIS first team all-Canadian, he helped the Blues earn OUA titles in 1983 and 1985 and a CIS bronze medal, also in 1985.
“We are so excited and proud that Ed has accepted the position of Athletic Instructor and head coach,” says Liz Hoffman, Director of Athletics. “Ed’s passion and commitment to volleyball, to the University and to the Varsity Blues is second to none, and his experience as one of Canada’s elite volleyball players, as the Technical Director for Volleyball Canada, and as a club, college and university coach solidified our belief that he is the right fit for the Varsity Blues.”
Drakich’s contributions to volleyball extend beyond the court and the beach. He is currently Technical Director for Volleyball Canada and had been Technical Director for Ontario Volleyball from 2001-04. He is considered a key builder in the development of beach volleyball in Canada, including authoring Canada’s NCCP Level 2 and 3 Beach Volleyball Coaching Manuals. He has been a key organizer for every FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour event hosted in Canada and has served as an FIVB Technical Supervisor since 1996.
He was an active member of the Toronto 2008 Olympic Bid committee and a former President of Athletes CAN, the association of national team athletes.
Drakich’s dedication to the sport runs in the family. His sister Kristine is a Blues alumna, a CIS all-Canadian, a member of the U of T Sports Hall of Fame, an international indoor and beach volleyball standout, and is the long-time coach of the Varsity Blues women’s volleyball team. Their father Eli was an assistant coach with the Blues volleyball program for many years and in 1996 received U of T’s prestigious Loudon Award for his contributions to university athletics, and their mother Mary is an alumna of the Faculty’s BPEH program and a former National Team athlete.
(Source: Mary Beth Challoner, Toronto Varsity Blues, Manager of Promotions and Sports Information)
“This is an exciting time for the Varsity Blues men’s volleyball program,” says Bruce Kidd, Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Health. “The appointment of a full-time faculty member with coaching responsibilities for men’s volleyball will only further enhance our program. Ed Drakich possesses all of the fine qualities we look for in a leader and in a teacher, and we are thrilled to see him return to his alma mater to lead the Blues during this important time of renewal.”
After graduating with honours from U of T’s Chemical Engineering program, Drakich began his university coaching career in 1986-1987 as an assistant with the Calgary Dinos. He helped direct the team to two Canada West finals and a national bronze medal in 1988. He then spent one season as a volunteer assistant coach with the Varsity Blues (1989–1990). In 1993, he accepted the position as head coach of the Scarborough Solars junior men’s team and guided them to two provincial titles and a national medal in three seasons. Drakich then became head coach of Seneca College’s men’s volleyball team. During his five seasons at the helm (1997–2002), he led the previously struggling program to multiple provincial medals, twice earning Coach of the Year honours.
In addition to coaching at the university, college and clubs level, Drakich has been a personal coach/trainer to some of Canada’s finest beach volleyball talents, including Olympic bronze medalists John Child and Mark Heese, as well as Kristine Drakich, Erminia Russo and Guylaine Dumont.
As an athlete, Drakich’s represented Canada in 215 international beach volleyball matches including the 1996 Olympic Games. He represented Canada in 123 international indoor volleyball matches, including the 1987 Pan-American Games and the 1985 FISU World Student Games. Drakich was also a member of TSV 1860 Munchen, a professional indoor volleyball team competing in the West German first division in 1988-1989. Inducted into the U of T Sports Hall of Fame in 2003 as a player, and again in 2006 as a member of the 1982-1983 men’s volleyball team, Drakich was a key member of the Varsity Blues volleyball program from 1981-1985. A four-time OUA all-star and a three-time CIS first team all-Canadian, he helped the Blues earn OUA titles in 1983 and 1985 and a CIS bronze medal, also in 1985.
“We are so excited and proud that Ed has accepted the position of Athletic Instructor and head coach,” says Liz Hoffman, Director of Athletics. “Ed’s passion and commitment to volleyball, to the University and to the Varsity Blues is second to none, and his experience as one of Canada’s elite volleyball players, as the Technical Director for Volleyball Canada, and as a club, college and university coach solidified our belief that he is the right fit for the Varsity Blues.”
Drakich’s contributions to volleyball extend beyond the court and the beach. He is currently Technical Director for Volleyball Canada and had been Technical Director for Ontario Volleyball from 2001-04. He is considered a key builder in the development of beach volleyball in Canada, including authoring Canada’s NCCP Level 2 and 3 Beach Volleyball Coaching Manuals. He has been a key organizer for every FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour event hosted in Canada and has served as an FIVB Technical Supervisor since 1996.
He was an active member of the Toronto 2008 Olympic Bid committee and a former President of Athletes CAN, the association of national team athletes.
Drakich’s dedication to the sport runs in the family. His sister Kristine is a Blues alumna, a CIS all-Canadian, a member of the U of T Sports Hall of Fame, an international indoor and beach volleyball standout, and is the long-time coach of the Varsity Blues women’s volleyball team. Their father Eli was an assistant coach with the Blues volleyball program for many years and in 1996 received U of T’s prestigious Loudon Award for his contributions to university athletics, and their mother Mary is an alumna of the Faculty’s BPEH program and a former National Team athlete.
(Source: Mary Beth Challoner, Toronto Varsity Blues, Manager of Promotions and Sports Information)
