Skip to content

Former Cambrian volleyballer joins coaching ranks

The trademark to Kevin Wiseman's game throughout his volleyball career has always been the intensity he brings to the court.
vball660
The Lockerby Vikings senior girls volleyball team are off to a good start to their 2015-16 campaign, winning the Lasalle Invitational Tournament last weekend. File photo.
The trademark to Kevin Wiseman's game throughout his volleyball career has always been the intensity he brings to the court.

Whether during his time as a member of the Lo-Ellen Park Knights, or with post-secondary stints at both Waterloo University and Cambrian College, the youngest of two boys in the family was always driven to win.

Now, the recent graduate will attempt to channel that passion for the game in a different direction, climbing aboard the coaching staff ranks with the Northern Chill Volleyball Club.

"It will be tough to no longer be the player, but I think I will find a way to adapt," said Wiseman recently, having entered the local workforce on a full-time basis.

"I’ve been known to go over the top, but I think there is a range where you can be. There is a such thing as being too intense, but it’s also possible not to be intense enough. You just have to find that balance and make it work for all of your players."

Though he only wrapped up his competitive playing days this past February, the long-time setter is not completely new to the coaching scene.

"I’ve always kind of tried to help," Wiseman said. "Throughout high school, I’ve helped out with some of the younger teams. The one year I was playing in Waterloo, I coached with the Stratford Cobras club, the 15U boys.I really enjoyed it there, and was hoping to find somewhere to give me an opportunity."

That said, the move to girls volleyball is sure to raise a few eyebrows, with Wiseman acknowledging that he may not be able to draw on much of the strategy that he was exposed to as a player.

"It’s almost a completely different game, tactically," said Wiseman. "The rallies with the girls are three to four times longer, on average, than the guys. That kind of intrigued me a little. It’s more of a strategic game, I believe, than just putting it up to that one person."

Never shy to enter a volleyball-related discussion, Wiseman noted that his experience as a member of the Golden Shield varsity team helped to ease this new transition.

"Playing at Cambrian this year really helped develop a relationship with both Mike (Margarit) and Dale (Beausoleil)," he said.

"It just worked out that I’ve settled down into a job in town, and am trying to find something to do with my spare time."

Wiseman will get his feet wet as an assistant coach, likely with one of the older Chill teams, looking forward to finding out just how much time he is able to devote to volleyball.

"I don’t think I would want to do it as a job, more of a pastime," said Wiseman. "But I want to stay involved in the game, for sure."

There is, after all, some outlet needed for all of that volleyball intensity that could, in years gone by, be expended on the courts.

Comments

Verified reader

If you would like to apply to become a verified commenter, please fill out this form.