O'Dwyer to step down

CALGARY, ALTA., (Feb. 11, 2020) - SAIT Trojans women's volleyball head coach Art O'Dwyer has decided this year will be his last.

O'Dwyer announced to his team on Monday night that he will step down following this weekend's regular season finale, ending nine Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) seasons with the Trojans.

"It's time. There's no question about that," said O'Dwyer, now 60 years of age. "It's a tough decision to make, because there's so much of it I love. But, it's one of those things you have to be able to put everything in to, and I would like to spend more time with my family."

In his nine seasons with the Trojans, O'Dwyer made the playoffs five times. His best season came in 2016-17 when he led the Trojans to an 18-6 record, setting a new program record for wins in a season.

The year previous, O'Dwyer became the first Trojans women's volleyball coach to be named ACAC South Division Coach of the Year.

"We want to express our profound gratitude to Coach O'Dwyer for his work with our Trojans women's volleyball program," said SAIT's Director of Athletics, Wade Kolmel. "For nine years, he has worked diligently to create an environment that allowed his student-athletes to succeed on the court and in the classroom. We will miss his professionalism and his passion for the sport of volleyball. We wish him nothing but the best, as he moves into the next chapter of his life." 

As a player, O'Dwyer starred with the University of Calgary Dinos from 1977-1981, where he was named a conference all-star twice. He played on Canada's Junior National Team in 1978.

After his playing career was over, he spent time as an assistant coach with the Dinos men's team on two separate occasions – in the early 80s, and again in the early 2000s. He was then hired by SAIT prior to the 2011-12 season.

When all is said and done, he will have spent the majority of his life involved in high level volleyball. 

"I think what happens is you run into certain mentors and certain people and they make a mark in your life. Some of mine just happened to be in volleyball," O'Dwyer said of his lengthy career on the court. "Through that experience of someone giving to me as an athlete, it turned into me showing my kids, and then coaching with the Dinos, and then taking on the challenge of becoming a head coach at SAIT. Part of it was my competitive nature, and part of it was I had a love of a sport and I wanted to share it."

One of the many players O'Dwyer coached throughout his nine years was Megan Brennan. 

Brennan played five years at SAIT (2013-17), becoming arguably the greatest player in Trojans history and one of the best to ever play in the ACAC.

When asked about any stories about her former coach, the school's all-time leader in kills, aces and digs laughs about his too-many-to-count 'dad jokes' that left the team rolling their eyes. 

But it's one story from way back in her rookie season in 2012-13 that sticks out to her, personally.

She had injured her ankle during the pre-season and could not play in an upcoming exhibition game, so O'Dwyer asked Brennan to sit beside him during the warm-up. He pointed to an established, top-end player on the opposing team and instructed her to watch her closely. 

After the warm-up was completed, O'Dwyer chatted with Brennan about what she noticed. At the end of the conversation, O'Dwyer stated: "You're going to be better than her."

"I'm not sure that necessarily came true," Brennan said humbly. "But, as a first-year player at the college level, hearing your coach have that much confidence in you was indescribable. Whatever he saw in me and the confidence he had in my abilities helped my career immensely. I don't think I would have been the player I was, or the person I am now, without having Art as my coach."

When told of the story, O'Dwyer choked up. He admitted he doesn't remember the story, but was moved all the same by it, saying having an impact on the lives of his players mattered more than wins and losses.

"Relatively speaking, our program has been successful. Maybe not at the Conference Championship level, but I would hold our group of young women against any program anywhere in terms of what they have done since and what they did as athletes," he said proudly. "At the end of the day, when I look back at it, those are the things that matter the most. And if I played some small role in that, then I can go to sleep at night happy.

"Winning is one thing - and don't get me wrong, I would have loved to win more - but the other side is I would not have sacrificed the other things for that."

This coming weekend series against Lethbridge College will be the final two games for O'Dwyer as a member of the SAIT Trojans. Afterwards, he says he would still like to be involved with the game, but not for a while and never again as head coach.

"I will just try to survive it without crying like a baby," O'Dwyer said about the weekend. "But after it, I want to make sure than in some way, I reach out and thank the people who have done so much to support me along this journey. I couldn't have done it without them."