OAKVILLE, Ont. - After completing two seasons as a member of the team in which she was a two-time OCAA All-Star and a two-time Academic All-Canadian, Dimitra Stathakos will now join the women's volleyball coaching staff after being accepted into the CCAA Female Apprentice Coach Program.
"I am extremely happy to have been accepted into the program and being able to learn from head coach Scott Hunt," Stathakos said. "Having been a part of the team for the past two seasons, I learned a tremendous amount from Scott on the court and I look forward to learning about the game from a different perspective. I enjoy working with new coaches because they each have their own techniques. Scott's organization, preparation and knowledge of the game contribute to his ability to communicate well to his athletes and this is an area I look forward to working on. I am ecstatic to be able to come back and continue to be a part of the Bruins family!"
"We are very thankful to the CCAA for giving our program this opportunity," added Hunt. "I am extremely excited to add Dimitra to our coaching staff. She has been a tremendous leader for us over the past two seasons. Those strong leadership skills will help her transition into a successful coach in the OCAA. Dimitra always had a very high volleyball IQ as a player, and she will be able to share her knowledge and passion of the game with our team this season. She will be a great mentor and role model for our younger players as a former athlete who has been successful both on the court and off the court in the classroom. This is a huge win for our program."
In addition to her season accolades during her two years in Double-Blue, Stathakos was a two-year team captain and established new team single-season bench marks for digs, kills and points.
She will also enter the position with some coaching experience already on her resume, having been both an assistant coach (2004-07) and a head coach (2010-12) for the Peel Selects Club program and as also been a house league coach and head summer camp counsellor for the Pakmen club.
The CCAA Female Apprentice Coach Program is designed to give former student-athlete hands on experience as well as professional development opportunities.
With Hunt serving as her mentor, Stathakos will get opportunities to lead practice sessions and take the reins as head coach in exhibition matches.
"I have been coaching with Pakmen Volleyball Club for the last four years and I have developed excellent communication and leadership skills," she said. "Both of which helped me contribute to the team as an athlete and will now carry over as a coach. As a young female athlete, the girls on the team will find me easy to relate to and this will help build trustworthy relationships. The girls on the team will see me as a supportive and motivational coach."