WELLAND, Ont. - Niagara College Athletics and Recreation is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Dow as the incoming coach for the Niagara College Knights women's volleyball program.
Dow takes over for former head coach Natasha Spaling, who guided the team to an Ontario Colleges Athletic Conference (OCAA) silver-medal performance last year.
Dow is no stranger to post-secondary volleyball, spending four seasons as an assistant coach with the University of Guelph Gryphons. Prior to his arrival in Guelph, Dow was an assistant with Lakehead University's women's program from 2011 to 2013, while he obtained his Bachelor of Education degree. Dow also holds a Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation from Lakehead.
A Toronto native, Dow began the process towards completing his Masters in coaching in 2016 at Western University in London and joined the Mustangs for a brief stint as an assistant coach in from 2016 to 2017.
In addition to assistant coaching at the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) level, Dow has spent a considerable amount of time in the role of head coach with numerous Ontario Volleyball Association (OVA) clubs. Most recently Dow coached the London Volleyball Club to a national bronze medal at the 2019 National Volleyball Championships. Dow was also recently named as one of the 2019 Team Ontario coaches and has been involved with the Ontario Summer Games as an assistant for both the male and female teams.
Dow's passion for volleyball transitions well into his career as a high school teacher, who is endeavoring to build bridges between the women's volleyball and the community.
Dow officially began with the Knights on July 29 eager to hit the ground running towards the 2019-20 season.
"I am excited about the opportunity to take over a program with such a strong pedigree of success," says Dow. "It is a privilege to step into a program with such a supportive administration, as evident by hosting the CCAA Women's Volleyball National Championships last year. The OCAA West Division is always going to be a tough battle every game with so many strong programs."
Niagara College Athletic Director, Michele O'Keefe, harmonized Dow's excitement.
"Steve's experience at the OUA level as well as OVA and Team Ontario makes him an excellent addition and successor to what was built in 2018-19," says O'Keefe.
Women's volleyball tryouts and training camp are set to begin Sept. 10. Full training camp schedule.
The Knights will begin their quest for an OCAA championship under Dow on Oct. 19 at Cambrian.
For full 2019-20 women's volleyball schedule, please visit goknights.ca.
Source: Niagara Knights