Big news for the Georgian Cubs volleyball club in Barrie.
Reid Saxby, well-known and highly respected in the volleyball community, has joined the team as Director of Volleyball Operations.
Saxby has an impressive track record in the sport of volleyball. He took over as the men's head coach at Georgian College in 2015 and has since been named the OCAA coach of the year twice. Under his leadership, the Grizzlies have become one of the strongest programs in Canada. Prior to coaching the men's team, Reid served as an assistant with the Grizzlies women's team for twelve years. He also has experience coaching at the club and provincial level, and in 2022, he led the Team Canada Junior Boys to a silver medal at the Maccabiah Games in Israel.
Saxby is excited to bring his wealth of knowledge and experience to the Georgian Cubs. "As my athletic career wound down, my coaching career replaced it and gave me the opportunity to give back to a system that had shaped and enriched my life," he said. "I love working with the enthusiasm of youth and helping young people reach their goals and ambitions. The Georgian Cubs share my dedication to providing quality coaching in a positive environment to help young players to develop their skills and grow their passion for volleyball."
Members of the Georgian Cubs are thrilled to have Saxby on board. Andrea Bray, the club's Vice President, has known him since 2002 when they were both assistant coaches with the Georgian College women's volleyball team. "Players who had Reid as their coach have immense respect for him, and many have stayed close over the years," she said. "Reid brings a wealth of knowledge to our organization, and I cannot wait to start working with him again."
The Georgian Cubs are a smaller club, but they have been steadily climbing up the provincial rankings. Phil Quesnelle, the club's President, says the goal is to keep getting stronger while never losing sight of the core values of respect, sportsmanship, and camaraderie that the club is famous for. "To continue the growth of our players, we knew that we needed to invest in the growth of our coaches, and that's where Reid comes in," he said. "Reid's volleyball knowledge, dedication to his athletes, and personality make him a great fit for our club."
One exciting development for the upcoming season is the return of boys' teams to the Georgian Cubs. With Reid's experience coaching at the national level, the club is eager to see how he can help develop young male players in the Barrie area.
banner image: Georgian Cubs' President Phil Quesnelle (left) and Reid Saxby (right).
