Female Performance Coach of the Year – Derek Zacharias
Derek has been coaching volleyball in Saskatchewan for almost a quarter century now and has had a remarkable impact on many young lives during that time. This past year was no exception as he continues to make it his priority to use volleyball to develop upstanding character, crucial life skills, and courageous leadership ability in the lives of his athletes.
Derek also had another outstanding season of on-court success as he led his Caronport High School Cougars Sr. Girls team to a Provincial Championship in November, and then followed that up with leading the female 18U Briercrest Club team to a Provincial Championship. Derek also made a huge contribution to developing Saskatchewan’s most elite female players this summer, as he was a head coach with the 17/18U Provincial team and guided Sask Green to a 3rd place finish. Finally, he also invested as an assistant coach with Briercrest’s women’s volleyball team and helped them to their first ever ACAC Conference Championship in February 2016.
Even though Derek is already highly regarded as an elite NCCP Level 3 volleyball coach, he is a continual learner who invests in his own development, leadership and coaching ability. In addition to his outstanding coaching, Derek is known as a tremendous mentor, leader, and a man of faith and integrity in the other various roles he serves in as high school teacher, athletic director, and vice principle at Caronport High School. He will continue to have a positive impact on all those lucky enough to be coached and taught by him.