List of Inductees 2005
Michel
Gagnon
Coach
Michel Gagnon was first introduced to volleyball in high school, later attending the University of Montreal. After getting his Master’s Degree in Belgium, he returned to Canada and started coaching at the Jonquière CEGEP in 1970. His team “Les Crocodiles de Jonquière” won the collegiate championship in 1975.
In 1974, he was part of the coaching team that started the Québec provincial team program. His first international matches were during the “Super Franco-Fête” which was held at Laval University.
In 1975-76, he created the club “Les Hirondelles de Jonquière”. As Head Coach, he won 10 Junior and Juvenile National Championships, as well as 3 titles at the Midget West Championships and 10 at the CC AA Championships. 10 of his athletes joined the National Team and his club won 23 National Championships in 8 years.
As Head Coach of the Québec Team, Michel was instrumental to the development of women’s volleyball in that province. The Team won bronze at the Canada Games in Brandon in 1979 and gold in Jonquière in 1983. The highlight of his coaching career was in 1983 when 3 Québec teams stood on the podium at the Junior National Championship.
In 1980, Michel became Head Coach of the Junior National Team in preparation for the NORCECA Championships in Calgary. The team beat Cuba in the finals to win gold.