TRU's Chad Grimm named assistant coach for national women's volleyball team

Photo: Andrew Snucins

Chad Grimm leads a timeout with the TRU women's volleyball team on Jan. 10, 2020.

Thompson Rivers University’s Chad Grimm, head coach of the women’s volleyball team, has been named assistant coach for the Canadian women’s senior team.

In a news release, TRU said this will be Grimm’s first formal role with Team Canada as a coach.

“It’s always fun to put on your country’s colours and I’m definitely looking forward to having that opportunity, Grimm said in a statement.

“There’s no doubt I’m going to learn a lot of things, gain new experiences and further some connections in the volleyball world.”

Grimm took over as head coach of TRU’s women’s volleyball team in 2014, after serving as a longtime assistant coach with the men’s team.

TRU said Grimm inherited a team that went 0-44 in conference play the two seasons prior.

Under his leadership, the team went on to rack up a 71-73 regular season record, qualified for the Canada West playoffs in four of the last five seasons, and won the first playoff series in program history in the 2019-2020 season.

Curtis Atkinson, the director of athletics and recreation, said everyone at the WolfPack is “incredibly proud” of Grimm for taking on the role.

“He has done a fantastic job building our program, and he has earned this amazing opportunity,” Atkinson said.

“I know that he will represent Canada and the WolfPack well on the international stage and look forward to the learnings he will bring back to Kamloops.”