Dec the 14 Indoor Men Senior
Stéphane Antiga takes the helm of the Canadian men’s team
Volleyball Canada is pleased to officially announce that Stéphane Antiga - originally of Suresnes, France, and most recently Poland’s national team coach - will be Canada’s new men's head coach.
I’m very happy to start this collaboration with Canada. The team has improved greatly; with very good players and the excellent work of Glenn Hoag and his staff. I'm very excited to start my new adventure with the Canadian team.
Antiga, 40, played under coach Hoag in France’s professional league. His playing career as an outside hitter included: Paris Volley (1994 - 2003), BRE Banca Lannutti Cuneo (2003-04), Portol Palma de Mallorca (2004 - 2007), Delecta Bydgoszcz (2011 - 2013), PGE Skra Bełchatów (2007 - 2011, 2013 - 2014). He was also a fixture on the French National Team from 1998 to 2010.
As a coach, he led the Polish National Team to its 2014 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship title in Poland. The team also qualified for the Olympics, finishing fifth – the same rank as Canada.
Canada’s fifth place in Olympic Games is the best illustration of the gains the team has made. The last time that Poland played against Canada, it was a very tough game. Poland won 3-2 in Japan at the World Olympic Qualification tournament.
Canada’s men’s coach for the past 10 years, Glenn Hoag, will remain with Volleyball Canada, and work with Antiga as High Performance Consultant (Men).
We are very pleased to have Stéphane on board – he has worked with Glenn in the past both as a player and as a colleague on the international coaching stage. It’s important to have some continuity and to cement our ongoing commitment to performance on the journey to Tokyo in 2020 and beyond. Stéphane knows what it takes to win at the top level, and we’re looking forward to seeing players rise to that challenge under his leadership.
The men’s program is based in Gatineau, Quebec, at the Centre Sportif de Gatineau.
Antiga’s contract with Volleyball Canada will officially commence on May 01, 2017.