McKay resigns, makes jump to USports

CALGARY, ALTA., (Aug. 9, 2019) – SAIT Trojans men's volleyball head coach Sean McKay is moving on.

The 28-year-old has accepted the role of head coach for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies after leading the Trojans to Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) medal games in each of his three seasons at the helm, winning gold in 2017-18 and bronze this past season.

"As sad as we are to see Sean go, we certainly are not surprised by it," says Director of Trojans Athletics, Wade Kolmel. "We feel Sean is a rising star in the volleyball community, and are very appreciative of the championship banner he brought us and of his commitment to our program these past three years. We wish him the best of luck with the Huskies."

McKay was hired in the summer of 2017 and immediately helped the Trojans to a 17-7 record. At the ACAC Men's Volleyball Championship, his Trojans fell to Keyano College in the bronze medal game.

One year later, McKay got his revenge, beating Keyano in the championship's gold medal final after going an impressive 20-4 in the regular season. In the three-game Conference Championship, the Trojans did not lose a set, going a perfect 9-0 through the quarter, semi and championship final.

This past season, McKay managed a considerably different roster to a 14-10 record during the regular season. At the ACAC Championship, his team went 2-1 and earned the bronze medal with a victory over the University of Alberta-Augustana Vikings.

In all, McKay leaves SAIT as one of its most successful men's volleyball coaches, recording an outstanding 51-21 regular season record (.708 winning percentage).

"I will be forever grateful to the SAIT Trojans Athletic Department for giving a young coach like me the opportunity to lead their men's volleyball program," McKay says. "The support shown to me over these past three years has been amazing. I will miss the players, my fellow coaches and the administration greatly."

The Trojans will now go forward this season with an interim coach yet to be named, and post the head coach position for the 2020-21 year later in the fall.