Garth Pischke Head Coach

The 2006-07 season was Garth Pischke's 27th season as Head Coach of the University of Manitoba Men's Volleyball program. In the middle of that stint Pischke coached the National Men's Team Head Coach from 1996-2000 taking them from 21st in World rankings to 10th.

During Pischke’s 27 years as Bisons men’s volleyball head coach, the Bisons have qualified for the CIS National Championships 25 times. Under Pischke, Manitoba Bisons have collected nine CIS gold medals, nine CIS silver medals, three CIS bronze medal, three fourth place finishes, and their lowest showing being a fifth place finish.

The Winnipeg native reached another phenomenal milestone in the 2006-07 season. He captured his 1100th victory at the annual York University Excalibur Classic from January 5-7, 2007. He guided the squad to a 10-8 record and a playoff spot before losing a tough three game series to eventual Canada West bronze medalist UBC in the 2006-07 season.

Pischke reached the milestone plateau of his 1000th coaching victory with the Bisons on November 9, 2003 with a victory over the Trinity Western Spartans during the 2003-04 season. Thirty-two of Pischke's athletes have gone on to represent Canada in National Team Programs. Pischke has also been involved in coaching various developmental and experienced club teams to three Under-18 National Championships, four Under-20 National Championships, and four Volleyball Canada Open Championships.

Pischke's background with volleyball did not start with coaching. Pischke has also won many National Championships as a player. These include three Canadian Under-20 Championships, three CIS Championships, five Volleyball Canada Open Championships, and three USVBA Open Championships. Pischke was a member of the Canadian Olympic Team at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. He also played professional volleyball in the United States (El Paso and Denver) in the International Volleyball Association (IVA), where he was named League Rookie in 1978 and League MVP in 1979.

Individually, he has been named to 12 All-Star Teams at Canadian National Championships where he received six MVP awards. Pischke was named All-American at eight USVBA Championships and awarded an MVP award. He has won 30 National Championships including the 1991 Canadian Beach Doubles Championship.

Pischke was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 1989, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1999, the Canadian Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2000 and his greatest accomplishment was being named MANITOBA’S AMATEUR ATHLETE OF THE 20th CENTURY in the fall of 2000. In 2000, True North Volleyball Magazine named Pischke as “Canada’s Best Male Volleyball Player” of all time.

He joins the company of Canadian athletes and builders who have, over the course of their career, distinguished themselves in Olympic and Pan American competition or contributed to the growth and development of the Olympic movement.

Pischke was born and raised in Winnipeg. He currently resides in south Winnipeg with his wife Cindy, their son Dane, and their daughter Taylor.

	Assistant Coach: Jared Brown Brown is entering fourth year with the Bison University program, second as assistant coach. He is looking to build off last season's Bronze Medal finish at CIS Nationals in Laval. 2004 - Assistant Coach, Team Manitoba Midget Elite Boys, Gold Medalist 2004 - Head Coach, Bison Juveniles, 5th in Canada 2005 - Head Coach, Bison Juniors 2005 - Co-Coach,Team Manitoba Under 17 Boys
Photo not available	Assistant Coach: Dan Gilbert Gilbert is entering his second year with the Bisons after joining the team in the 2006-2007 season. Prior to starting a teaching career at Kildonan East Collegiate in 2005, Gilbert coached for 5 years at Miles Mac where his team captured a Junior Varsity Provincial Championship in 2004. He started coaching with the Bison Volleyball Club in 2004, winning Bronze Medals at both the 2005 and 2006 National Championships. In the 2007 season his Bison 18-and-under club team was crowned both Provincial and National Champions. This University of Manitoba graduate is also actively involved with the Manitoba Provincial Team Program, coaching teams to Western Elite Bronze Medals in both 2005 and 2007.
	Assistant Coach: Jeremy Stubler Stubler played on the 2003 Western Canada Games Championship team and won the Canadian Open 20-Under championship with the Bison Club team in April 2006 where he was named to the all-star team.
Photo not available	Assistant Coach: Pat Alexander
Photo not available	Academic Advisor: Dr. Matthew Kwok
	Athletic Therapy Certification Candidate: Richard Girardin
Photo not available	Athletic Therapy Certification Candidate: Corinne Kehler