OAKVILLE, Ont. - The Sheridan College Athletics and Recreation department announced today the hiring of Amar Balkaran as the new head coach of women's volleyball.
"I am truly blessed for this amazing opportunity given by Sheridan. I am super excited to coach such a wonderful group of young women," Balkaran said. "I look forward to seeing this team grow individually and collectively. I also look forward to working with a great group of assistant coaches, and trainers to bring this team to the next level."
Balkaran has 10 years of progressive and high-performance coaching at various locations, having held coaching positions for Team Ontario's Regional program, Pakmen, and Waves Volleyball Club. Most recently, he was the assistant director for Waves. As a former Rick Hansen student athlete in Mississauga, Balkaran won various awards for his dedication, athletic ability, and volunteering. When an injury prevented him from being able to continue playing, he still had a desire to compete and he focused his attention on the sideline.
"We're very excited to bring Amar into the Bruin family," volleyball coordinator Rory Cooper said. "Amar brings a strong dedication and passion for volleyball with philosophies that reflect our own at Sheridan. He has proven himself at multiple levels and we are confident he will continue to produce a competitive team on the court that excels in the classroom."
Last year, the Bruins upset Canadore in the opening round of the OCAA playoffs to earn a spot in the Championship tournament in Sudbury. Though they ultimately fell in the quarter-final to wrap up their season, the team has been consistently competitive over the past five years, and with a core group of student athletes returning, they are expected to remain at that level.
Balkaran wants to give back to aspiring student athletes and provide support throughout the different facets of their Sheridan journey, and he wants to continue building on that momentum in order to stay podium relevant year-after-year.
"As the head coach of the Bruins, I want to create a culture that fosters a high-performance environment and supports our student athletes to flourish academically and athletically," he said. "It is truly my goal to create a great student-athlete experience, as we work towards the collective goals of competing for an OCAA Championship and graduating from Sheridan."