LANGLEY, B.C. – Trinity Western men's volleyball coach Ben Josephson has been named Senior Team Assistant Coach for Volleyball Canada's women's program.

Josephson, who will remain in his head coaching role with TWU's men's volleyball program, will assist newly appointed women's senior team head coach Tom Black, who will take over Canada's women's program beginning May 2019. Along with Josephson, Volleyball Canada also announced that Shannon Winzer is now the NextGen Coach/Senior Team Assistant coach for the women's program.

“This is a dream come true,” Josephson said. “The chance to coach your country in the sport you love is something I've dreamed about for years and when this opportunity came up and Tom called, it was a no-brainer. To get to wear the Maple Leaf and pursue an Olympic Games is just an incredible honour. After talking to Tom, we're just both excited to bring our experience and share it with the team as much as we can. We just want to get to the gym, get to know the players and start preparing for 2020.”

Josephson, who is originally from Strathmore, Alta., has been at the helm of the Trinity Western University Spartans men's volleyball program since 2007.

In his time with TWU, he has guided the Spartans to four national championships, in 2011, 2012, 2016 and 2017, and nine appearances in the U SPORTS championship tournament. Josephson also led the Spartans to four Canada West championships (2012, 2016, 2017, 2018) and has guided TWU to the conference title match in each of the last seven years. Josephson has been named both the Canada West Coach of the Year and U SPORTS Coach of the Year twice, in 2011-12 and 2013-14.

Along with his seven U SPORTS medals, Josephson has guided TWU to nine Canada West medals.

“I think Ben is a special coach,” said TWU Athletic Director Jeff Gamache. “I don't think his talents should be hoarded at TWU and I'm excited for him to take his talents to this level and have them used to their full capacity on the national team. I'm also excited for what he'll learn at the international level and what he'll bring back into our system. I always love it when our coaches are recognized in this way for their excellent capabilities and outstanding character.”

Josephson was a player for the Spartans from 1998 to 2003 and, in his final year, earned the school's first ever All-Canadian award while also being named a Canada West First Team All-Star.

Along with his work at TWU, Josephson has also coached internationally as a guest assistant with Canada's men's senior team in 2009 and as an assistant with Canada's World University Games men's teams in 2005 and 2011. Josephson was the head coach of Canada's Youth National team in 2015 and 2016. He is also the technical director for the Ducks Volleyball Club.

Josephson has a Bachelor of Human Kinetics Degree from Trinity Western and is an NCCP Level III certified coach.

“With these additional staff members - Ben Josephson and Shannon Winzer - I'm confident that we have a very well-rounded coaching team with excellent track records to guide our women's program in the next several years,” said Julien Boucher, Volleyball Canada Indoor High Performance Director.

Winzer, originally from British Columbia, is returning to Canada after serving as Volleyball Australia's Women's National Team head coach. Over the past three years with the "Volleyroos," the team improved its ranking to reach the highest the team has been for several years, and is currently ranked 30th in the world.

Also the Volleyball Australia Centre of Excellence head coach, Winzer was named Volleyball Australia's National Coach of the Year for 2016-7. During her time in Australia, she also served as an assistant national team coach, and as the women's U23 team coach. She also coached at Melbourne University and various elite teams and clubs.

Winzer is a graduate of the University of British Columbia (2002), where she played on the varsity team. She also played professional volleyball in Europe. After a move to Australia, she joined the Women's Australian Volleyball League (WAVL) and captained the Melbourne University Blues for almost four years, and was on the Australian national team in 2008 and '09.

The new staff members will begin their terms in late April.

About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 10 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, cross country and track & field. TWU also competes in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) in men's hockey. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 11 U SPORTS team championships and 25 Canada West team championships.

-TW-

As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 10 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, cross country and track & field. TWU also competes in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) in men's hockey. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 11 U SPORTS team championships and 25 Canada West team championships.

-TW-