The Ontario Volleyball Association is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Coaching Awards.

Congratulations on your deserved successes as a result of your impactful presence leading these teams. 

From everyone at the OVA, thank you for everything that you do in preparing young athletes across the province for everything they will experience on and off the court.

The 2025 Sandy Silver Coach of the Year Award is being awarded to a coach whose dedication, leadership, and passion for athlete development are unmatched - Anne Grover

Anne’s journey in volleyball has come full circle. After a standout playing career at Ohio State University, she seamlessly transitioned into coaching at the NCAA level. From 2003 to 2005, Anne returned to Ohio State to serve as a coach with the women’s volleyball program, where she helped guide the team to back-to-back conference titles and multiple NCAA tournament appearances. Her impact at the collegiate level laid a strong foundation for what would become an extraordinary coaching career.

Upon returning to Canada, Anne joined the Durham Attack Volleyball Club in 2008. In her first year as a coach, Anne led the Durham Attack 17U team to both a Provincial and National championship. Over the past 15+ years, she has continued to coach young athletes and become a role model in the Ontario volleyball community. Her teams are known not only for their success on the court but for the growth and confidence of the athletes she mentors.

In the 2023–2024 season, Anne’s accomplishments reached new heights. As head coach of the 15U Girls DA Hydra team, she led them to a bronze medal at Ontario Championships and followed that up by winning the Division 1 National Championships at the Volleyball Canada Edmonton event. She also served as assistant coach for DA Spirit (6v6), a team that lost only one set all season and went on to win a silver medal at Ontario Championships. On the beach side, Anne coached two first-year OVA beach teams, with her 12U team capturing bronze in the Premier Division at Provincials in 2024 — a remarkable feat for a debut season.

Anne’s impact extends far beyond medals. She is often on the court six days a week, coaching multiple teams, running practices, and supporting tournaments. She volunteers her time year-round, leading off-season skills and drills programs for athletes in the Durham Region — without compensation and purely out of a love for the game and a desire to give back. Anne demonstrates the same energy and enthusiasm for coaching whether it is as a teacher at the elementary school where she works or the club teams she coaches. Her commitment is awe-inspiring, and her work ethic is tireless.

All of this she does while raising two daughters and teaching full-time with the Durham District School Board. Her ability to balance so much with such grace and enthusiasm is nothing short of remarkable.

Anne Grover embodies the very spirit of the Sandy Silver Coach of the Year Award — a coach who gives everything to her athletes, her community, and the sport of volleyball. Her legacy is not just in her impressive results, but in the hundreds of young athletes she’s inspired along the way.

Peter Wong of the Halton Region Volleyball Club is the 2025 recipient of the Mike Bugarski Coach of the Year award. 

Peter has been with Halton since 2013 and has served as Technical Director for the 15U–18U girls’ program for the past five years. Under Peter’s leadership, his teams have produced consistent success at both the Provincial and National levels. He has led teams to the following impressive titles including the 2019 17U Girls Provincial and National Champions, 2022 18U Girls Provincial Champions, 2023 17U Girls National Champions and the 18U Girls National Champions in 2024. This season, his 18U girls team placed 5th at the Ontario Championships, competing fiercely in one of the deepest fields in recent memory and a solid 9th place finish in 18U Girls Edmonton Nationals. 

In addition to his club accomplishments, Peter is also active on the international stage, currently working with USA Volleyball’s Women’s National Team Program. This summer, he will travel to Indonesia with the U21 National Team. 

Peter’s passion for the game, his athletics first approach, and his commitment to excellence at all levels make him a truly deserving recipient of this award. 

So please join us in celebrating Peter Wong, the 2025 Mike Bugarski Coach of the Year.

We are proud to recognize Elaine Pilgrim Susi as Ontario Volleyball’s 2025 Female Development Coach of the Year. 

Elaine’s impact on volleyball in Ontario is deep and far-reaching. For over 25 years, she has championed grassroots development, introducing countless young athletes to the sport through school programs, club teams, and community clinics in the Hamilton-Burlington area. Whether she’s leading development clinics, running school programs, or providing one-on-one coaching, Elaine ensures that athletes of all skill levels feel welcome, supported, and inspired. 

This past season, Elaine served as Head Coach for two teams with the Smash Raiders: the U14 Attack and the U17 Cyclones. Her influence also extends to the provincial level, where she has played a key role in Team Ontario programs over the past five years. As a coach with the Regional Program, Team Ontario Academy, and both the Black and Red teams, Elaine brings her passion, expertise, and mentorship to athletes from across the province. She now serves as a mentor coach, guiding new coaches as they develop their voice and approach within the high-performance pathway. 

This past January, Elaine faced one of the most difficult moments a coach can experience—the sudden, tragic loss of one of her athletes. While coping with her own grief, she became a pillar of strength for the team, the families, and the club community. She helped her athletes process the loss with compassion and care, and continued to lead them forward while honouring their teammate’s memory. 

Elaine leads with heart, humility, and integrity. Her impact is not only measured in wins or skill development, but in the countless young people who have grown stronger, more confident, and more resilient because she was their coach. 

Please join us in celebrating Elaine Pilgrim Susi, our 2025 Female Development Coach of the Year. 

We are proud to recognize a coach whose impact on athlete development across Ontario volleyball has been both meaningful and lasting.

Shane Whalen has dedicated nearly a decade to coaching young athletes, from U12 to U16, across both the indoor and beach streams. Over the years, he’s demonstrated a deep commitment to nurturing foundational skills, building confidence, and instilling a lifelong love of the game. 

Until earlier this year, Shane served as the Technical Director for multiple U13 teams with the KW Predators, where he developed training programs, mentored coaches, and worked closely with athletes to build strong fundamentals and positive team dynamics. His teams consistently improved, with notable rankings and strong performances at the provincial level. 

But what sets Shane apart is the care he shows beyond technical development. He has always gone above and beyond for his athletes—offering extra training sessions, recovery programs after tournaments, and personal mentorship. He has made a point of supporting neurodivergent athletes, helping them improve their focus and build confidence. He’s also been generous with his time and resources, ensuring all athletes—regardless of circumstances—have access to meaningful opportunities. 

Shane’s influence extends into the broader volleyball community. He regularly organized joint practices and scrimmages with teams from other clubs, helping build community through collaboration. He has also served as a mentor for up-and-coming coaches, sharing his knowledge and encouraging others to grow within the sport. 

From national championship wins early in his career to more recent top finishes in both indoor and beach volleyball, Shane’s coaching has helped shape athletes who are not just successful on the court, but also strong, confident individuals off of it. 

While his coaching journey continues to evolve, Shane’s impact on the athletes he has worked with will be felt for years to come. His ability to meet athletes where they are, support them through challenges, and foster joy in the game is what development coaching is truly all about. 

Please join us in celebrating the 2025 Development Coach of the Year — Shane Whalen. 

For more information about past award recipients, how to make nominations next year, and everything else awards related, please head over to the OVA Awards page.