Meet the Coaches

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Dennis Sallans is returning as the Head Coach of Extreme. Dennis has been with the club for a couple of years, and his dedication to athlete development is evident in his work with athletes.  The belief in developing life-long volleyball enthusiasts is at the core of the work he does. A teacher by trade, Dennis wants the athlete to continue learning in order to develop skills, be a good teammate, and continue to have fun during competition. He is excited to see athletes grow as they develop.

Dane Clarke is returning to the Chaos bench as Head Coach. Dane has coached with Durham Attack as an assistant coach, and although this will be his first Head Coach role with Durham Attack, Dane has a wealth of knowledge and experience. He has coached athletes from the ages of 12 to adults. Dane works annually at summer volleyball camps and clinics, lending his expertise. He is a fully certified Development Coach and is eager to continue working with this team.

Rasho will be assuming the role of Head Coach with the Raiders this season.  In his second year as a coach with DA. Rasho was the head coach of 11U Spirit last year, and he is excited to continue sharing his passion for the game of volleyball. A former high school player and current beach enthusiast, Rasho is eager to provide a safe environment for the athletes to grow and develop while learning more about the game. His desire to help athletes develop their core skills is central to his coaching philosophy. 

Adam Pelton is returning as the Head Coach of Blast.  With many years of coaching experience, Adam was most recently honoured at the OVAtion Awards with the Recognition Award for his contributions to volleyball at the club level.  He is a dedicated coach who believes in the value of sport beyond the game but also as a means to develop character and relationships.  Adam has been the Head Coach of Blast for the past two years. He has supported the team as they have achieved success at both the Provincial and National levels.  Under Adam’s coaching, a number of Blast athletes have also been named to the Team Ontario Regional Program.

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Mark Shaver is ready for the challenge of the Head Coach role with Power.  Although Mark has been an Assistant Coach with DA for the past three years, this will not be Mark’s first time in the Head Coach role. Mark coached with Aurora for four years, assuming the Head Coach title a number of times, including with a 16U team that successfully won a National title. He has an excellent knowledge of volleyball and the skills needed for higher-level play and is eager to continue to share this with the athletes.  He is looking forward to continuing the success that Power has achieved and furthering their skills as the Head Coach, and preparing the athletes for the next stage in their volleyball journey. 

Zachary Marks is returning to the Spitfires. Although only in his second year of formal coaching, Zachary has worked hard to develop his skills in a short time.  Zachary played club with both Scarborough Titans and Durham Attack and is a graduate of Uxbridge Secondary School under the coaching of Tony Kiriakou. Zachary has coached at Madawaska and believes that the power of hard work, both on and off the court, is one of the most important lessons a volleyball coach can teach their athletes. Zachary is excited to continue the success the Spitfire team experienced last year.

Stephen MacDonald is excited to lead the Talons in their final year with DA.  Stephen has been a head coach and an assistant coach with DA for the past 5 years. He thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to work with a variety of coaches and athletes.  Stephen has achieved great success as both a coach and a player. You will find his name gracing the rafters at Durham College as a result of his success as a college athlete.  Stephen understands the nuances of the game and is excited to pass along his knowledge, enthusiasm and passion for volleyball.  Stephen is looking forward to the opportunity to learn alongside his players as they work to develop skills.

In his second year with Durham Attack, Duane Lunn is the new Head Coach of Venom.  He is looking forward to the season and assuming a Head Coach role with Venom while also supporting Extreme.  Duane played his youth volleyball career with Forest City Volleyball winning two Provincial Championships, and is also York University Alumni.  At York University he represented the Yeomen as not only a member of the team but as the Captain in his last two years of varsity volleyball.  Duane loves volleyball and is eager to support athletes in their volleyball development.  His knowledge of the game is extensive and will be an asset to the Venom athletes in their final year of club volleyball. 

Kira is returning to Durham Attack to coach our 11U team, and we are excited to have her back.  She is a secondary school teacher with the DDSB, where she coaches volleyball athletes between the ages of 14 and 18. Kira has worked as a Head coach and an assistant coach with DA at the 12-14U level as well as working as a coach with house league. She still plays volleyball herself and is eager to teach these young athletes the core skills they will need to be successful lifelong volleyball athletes. 

In her second year with DA, Jillian will be in the head coach chair for Spirit. As an elementary school teacher, Jillian has over 15 years of coaching athletes between the ages of 10-14. She is able to develop the skill and passion for volleyball but also fosters important life skills such as teamwork, respect, communication, confidence, and leadership. As an assistant coach last year, Jillian enjoyed the opportunity to work with DA and is eager to accept the challenge of the Head Coach chair.  

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Roger will be the Head Coach of Crimson.  A long-term DA parent and, most recently an assistant Coach with Hydra, Roger is looking forward to the next step in his coaching journey.  Roger has also had a wealth of volleyball coaching experience at the high school level where he works.  As a teacher, Roger enjoys supporting athletes, developing new skills and learning new things about themselves as people and athletes.  He has a passion for sports and is eager to share his love of volleyball with athletes. 

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Anne Grover is returning as the Head Coach of Hydra. Anne brings a wealth of playing experience as a former Provincial, National and NCAA athlete. Anne also has extensive coaching experience having coached with DA, but also at the elementary school and NCAA level. Her extensive coaching experience has seen Anne coach athletes between the ages of 10-22. Regardless of their age, Anne develops core skills, volleyball knowledge and team dynamics to create strong teams that have achieved success at many levels. In her third year with Hydra, Anne is excited to continue as the Head Coach and work to support athletes as they continue their volleyball journey. Her knowledge of the game is second to none, and her ability to have athletes push themselves while supporting their teammates is her greatest strength. 

Danielle Baker is returning as the Head Coach of Fury. Although only her second year of competitive coaching, Danielle has extensive experience working with young athletes in the house league and summer camp programs. As a DA Alumni, Danielle is no stranger to winning Provincial and National Championships, but her biggest desire is to ensure that the athletes she coaches develop their love for the game and have long-lasting relationships with their teammates.

Adam Martin has been coaching with DA for many years, working as an assistant coach, in both the girls and boys programs from the ages of 12-18. As a former DA athlete, Adam embodies the DA belief in building character through sport. Last season, Adam was a mentor coach with 12U Crimson and an assistant with 17U Blaze. He is eager to assume the Head Coach role this season and continue his volleyball journey. Adam believes in developing the whole athlete, with core volleyball skills and mental skills to be a successful volleyball player for life. 

Anthony Hack has been coaching volleyball for over thirty years and we are excited to have him returning as the Head Coach of Explosion. He has had an extensive career as a high school coach and just completed his tenth year with DA. Anthony has coached athletes from 12-18 and has achieved great success. Regardless of the age he is coaching, Anthony believes in having fun while maximizing the athlete’s potential. His commitment to meeting athletes where they are and supporting them as they develop skills is the key to his success.

Cheri-Lynn is joining us as the Head Coach of Infinity. Having started her career in elementary school when a phys-ed teacher encouraged her to try out, Cheri-Lynn is eager to return the favour and support athletes on their volleyball journey. With over 20 years of elementary school experience, Cheri-Lynn has coached many junior and intermediate teams and is excited to share her expertise with a DA team. The highlight of coaching for Cheri-Lynn is seeing athletes develop throughout as well as sharing her passion for the game ultimately contributing to their love of volleyball. 

Mike Slean has been a coach with DA for many years, working primarily with the boys program.  For the 2023-24 season, Mike will be at the helm of Intensity. He has had a storied career as an OUA athlete and a beach pro. Mike still competes at the masters level. He has coached athletes from the ages 12-18 and has won the OVA’s Mike Bugarski Coaching Award for his excellence in coaching.  Mike is able to support athletes he coaches in the development of their technical skills, but also in their understanding of the nuances of the game. Mike believes in growth as an individual as well as a team player. He pairs his technical knowledge with physical preparation and mental training to ensure every athlete is able to achieve their best. 

Sarah Whitlock is eager to assume the Head Coach role with Velocity this season. A former DA athlete, Sarah was excited to return to DA last season as both an assistant coach with Velocity and the Coordinator of the Girls House League Program. Sarah is very excited to share her love of volleyball and give back to the athletes she coached. Assuming the Head Coach role this season to develop technical skills with fun and enthusiasm and help players achieve their goals is a challenge Sarah is ready to take on. 

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Entering his 26th year as a coach with DA, Chris is excited to be working with Energy again.  Although he has won numerous Provincial and National titles, Chris continues to derive the greatest pleasure in watching athletes achieve their goals, develop their skills and, in time, return to the court to coach themselves. Chris has coached numerous sports as an elementary teacher and has coached club athletes from the ages of 11-18. Volleyball coaching has opened the doors to many experiences, including doing stats with Volleyball Canada at the Pan Am Games and coordinating volleyball for the Invictus Games. Chris has most recently added officiating indoor and sitting volleyball to his resume.

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Robin Kidd will be taking on the Head Coach role with Blaze. Although this is only Robin’s second year with Durham Attack, his dedication to developing athletes is evident to all who have worked with him. Robin has coached both male and female teams in his career and is a certified Development Coach.  Robin has previously coached with Unity and the Scarborough Titans and has been a member of the Regional and Team Ontario Summer Programs. His commitment to developing and mentoring athletes is at the forefront of everything Robin does and focuses his energy on continual growth and improvement. Robin continues to be active in the game himself, playing both indoors and on the beach.

Scott Naish will be continuing at the helm for Blitz.  He has been a member of the DA coaching staff for a number of years as both an Assistant and Head Coach, working with athletes at the 12-18 range. As a coach, Scott has worked to develop the skills of many athletes. Scott played for three years at Durham College where he was named to the OCAA All Star team and received an All-Canadian award nomination. Scott is a Team Ontario Regional Program Coach and is dedicated to developing his coaching skills.