Last March, The Citizen reported that Kyle Guenther, head coach of the Providence Pilots volleyball program, would be stepping down after 13 seasons. Nearly a year later, circumstances have changed and Guenther is back at the helm.
Guenther has led the Pilots to multiple championships and just last year was recognized as the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC) women’s volleyball coach of the year.
He began his career at Providence University College (PUC) as an assistant coach before assuming head coaching responsibilities in 2017. At the end of the 2022–2023 volleyball season, Guenther announced his intention to leave the program but agreed to serve as the team’s interim coach for one year.
Last week, Guenther has agreed to continue on as head coach at least until the end of the 2024–2025 season.
As interim coach this year, Guenther has guided the team through their best-ever season, boasting a perfect regular season record of 18 wins. The women’s volleyball team has achieved their highest-ever national ranking in Canada. They currently sit tenth in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association’s (CCAA) weekly Top 15 list.
“I am happy to welcome Kyle back to the program next season,” says Russell Willms, Providence’s director of athletics. “Kyle is well-connected within our conference, institution, and local club volleyball networks. He is an excellent coach who facilitates a positive sporting experience and healthy, competitive culture for athletes. I know that Kyle will continue to steer the program in a good direction next season.”
Guenther and the Pilots completed the final weekend of their regular season this past weekend in Brandon, going up against the second-place Assiniboine Community College (ACC) Cougars. They return to Niverville this weekend to host the 2024 MCAC Volleyball Championships, taking place February 24–25 at the CRRC.
The winner of this weekend’s playoffs will travel to Red Deer, Alberta to represent Manitoba at the 2024 CCAA Women’s Volleyball Championships, hosted by Red Deer Polytechnic on March 5–9.
