By Sarah Tone, Communications Coordinator

For almost 35 years the boys’ volleyball program at Dakota Collegiate has had at least two traditions: winning and a head coach with the last name Hudson. First, it was Phil Hudson from 1988-2018 who led them to five provincial titles, and then his son Ryan took over and they won another in 2019.

Obviously, the love of volleyball runs deep for the Hudson family.

“Dad got some really good coaching growing up and that developed his love for the game and ultimately allowed him to play for the Bisons. Eventually, he moved into coaching, and that meant my sisters and I basically grew up in the gym, being there for every practice and every game. You kind of just fall in love with it,” says Ryan.

Now the head coach of the Women’s program at the University of Winnipeg, Phil previously did double duty not only coaching Dakota but also spending 8 years as an assistant with the UW men’s team. His volleyball resume is extensive and includes filling in as the U of M Bisons head coach when Garth Pischke went on sabbatical in 2007, national women’s team assistant in 2006 and national women’s junior team assistant in 2012. His first stint with Team Manitoba’s men’s volleyball came in 1975 as a player, and his team came in second place overall. He returned in 1985 to coach his squad to silver, and two years later it was bronze. He didn’t return to the Canada Games program again until the 2005 Games when he had a special bond with his setter. It was of course his son Ryan, and together, they won gold.

“It was a truly amazing two-year experience,” said Ryan. “At the time we were a bit of an underdog, but the players and coaching staff that were assembled really just peaked at the right time. We lost a match in the round-robin but then didn’t lose a set in the playoffs. Beating Sask in the quarters, then BC in the semis and getting revenge on Quebec in the final, who beat us in the round robin and had a bunch of national team players, was huge. To do it with my dad coaching, it was emotional. I specifically remember giving him the hug after we won gold.”

Fast forward to Niagara 2022 and Ryan, as the assistant coach, is again part of Team Manitoba and hoping to keep that Hudson family Canada Games medal string alive.

“This experience, with our coaches Mike and Adam and all the players, has been tremendous. We talk about the tightness of our team all the time and how close we are. I’ve been texting all the guys from ’05 because they’re excited and following along. We had a lot of great training coming into these Games and have lost a few close matches so far but had a good win today to get us ready for a big quarter tomorrow.”

Team Manitoba Men’s Volleyball faces Saskatchewan in the quarter-finals tomorrow at 11 am CST. Watch: https://niagara2022games.ca/watch