2026 ACAC Men's Volleyball Coaches of the Year
Edmonton, AB (February 25, 2026) –
NORTH MEN'S VOLLEYBALL COACH OF THE YEAR, LINDSEY HABIB:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is proud to announce Lindsey Habib of the Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves has been named the 2026 ACAC North Division Men’s Volleyball Coach of the Year.
In just his second year as NWP Men’s volleyball coach Lindsey Hbib’s leadership has been a transformative force for the team. Coach Habib brought a clear vision focused on building a strong team culture, tactical awareness, and mental resilience. His coaching philosophy emphasizes not just physical skill development, but also strategic decision-making.
Across his first two seasons, Habib has guided the Wolves to measurable improvements on the court. The Wolves finished the 24/25 season with a 6-13 record, and with a full off-season and recruiting class under his belt, coach Habib led the Wolves to a 12-7 season, a playoff berth, and entered the national rankings for the first time in more than a decade.
Coach Habib’s emphasis on technical proficiency and heavy use of analytics and energetic coaching has allowed the Wolves to challenge traditional ACAC Powerhouses and establish themselves as a force in the league for future years.
Athletic Director James Phillips had this to say, “Lindsey Habib is a first-in/last-out kind of coach. He works tirelessly to make sure both he and the team are prepared week in and week out. Coach Habib has reinvigorated the men’s volleyball program at NWP, and we are so happy that his efforts are being recognized.”
This prestigious award will be recognized at the 2026 ACAC Men’s Volleyball Championship hosted by Red Deer Polytechnic in Red Deer, Alberta.
SOUTH MEN'S VOLLEYBALL COACH OF THE YEAR, AARON SCHULHA:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is pleased to announce Aaron Schulha has been named the 2026 ACAC South Men's Volleyball Coach of the Year.
“Aaron’s recognition as the ACAC Men’s Volleyball South Coach of the Year is a testament to the standard of excellence he has established within the Kings program,” says Randy Stewart, Manager, Athletics and Student Life, Red Deer Polytechnic. “His steady leadership and commitment to developing student-athletes have strengthened a winning culture within the Kings program. We’re proud to recognize this achievement and to honour the legacy he continues to build at Red Deer Polytechnic.”
Under Schulha’s leadership, the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings Volleyball team earned a 16-3 regular season record, further solidifying its position as one of the premier programs in the league.
A highly decorated coach, Schulha has been previously named the ACAC Men’s Volleyball Coach of the Year five times, a testament to his sustained excellence and leadership within the conference. Nationally, he has also received the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Men’s Volleyball Coach of the Year Award and the CCAA Coaching Excellence Award across all sports in 2014. Throughout his tenure leading the Red Deer Polytechnic Volleyball program Schulha has amassed more than 320 wins in ACAC and CCAA competition. The program itself has a storied history, capturing 21 ACAC and 14 CCAA gold medals. Schulha is also a proud Kings Volleyball alumni, attending the post-secondary institution from 2000- 2003 before transferring to the University of Alberta to play with the Golden Bears.
The ACAC Men’s Volleyball Awards were recognized at the ACAC Men’s Volleyball Championship Banquet and Awards. The championship event will be held at RDP’s Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre from February 26-28.
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About the ACAC: The ACAC is the governing body for intercollegiate athletics in Alberta. Its mission is to provide competitive collegiate sport experiences, promote academic achievement and be a leader of sport development in Canada.
For more information on the ACAC, please visit our website: www.acac.ab.ca
For additional information, contact:
Mark Kosak, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Chief Executive Officer
403-875-7329
markk@acac.ab.ca
Emily Peterson, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
emilyp@acac.ab.ca