2025 ACAC Women's Volleyball Coaches of The Year
Edmonton, AB (February 19, 2025) –
North Female Coach of the Year | AUSTIN DYER | Lakeland Rustlers:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is proud to announce that Austin Dyer of the Lakeland Rustlers has been named the ACAC Women’s Volleyball North Coach of the Year.
Dyer is a fully certified Level 3 coach with a Master of Education in Coaching Studies. Over his 16 years as head coach of the Lakeland women’s volleyball program, he has guided his team to three national titles, as well as a national silver and bronze medal. This season, the Rustlers women’s team finished the regular season with a 19-0 record, winning 57 sets while losing just one. In those 57 set victories, opponents surpassed 22 points only five times.
This marks the fifth time Dyer has received ACAC Coach of the Year honors and the third time since 2020. He also earned the CCAA Coach of the Year Award in 2023 when the Rustlers went 24-1 to secure their second national title.
“Coach Dyer continues to build a strong women’s volleyball program at Lakeland that excels on the court,” Athletic Director Alan Rogan said. “More important than winning matches, he is a positive mentor to many young women who succeed in all aspects of being student-athletes.”
Dyer’s commitment to developing well-rounded student-athletes was evident in the first semester, with the team achieving an overall Grade Point Average of 3.39. He also encourages players to coach in the Rustlers club program and volleyball camps. Throughout his career, Dyer has mentored several aspiring volleyball coaches, many of whom have gone on to coach at the club, secondary school, or post-secondary levels.
We are extremely proud of Coach Dyer and everything he has built at Lakeland and will continue to cheer on the team this weekend at the ACAC Women’s Volleyball Championship in Camrose.
This prestigious award will be recognized at the 2025 ACAC Women’s Volleyball Championship hosted by the Augustana Vikings in Camrose, AB from February 20-22.
South Female Coach of the Year | NATALIE MULLAN | Briercrest Clippers:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is proud to announce Natalie Mullan of Briercrest College Women's Volleyball has been named the 2024-2025 ACAC Women's South Volleyball Coach of the Year.
In her first year as a college head coach, stepping in just a month before the season, Mullan and her staff quickly united their players, fostering a culture of resilience and teamwork. Despite the challenges of taking over on short notice, she led Briercrest into the top spot in the South, keeping them in and out of the CCAA national rankings all season. Her leadership has been instrumental in the team's strong performance and growth.
"From day one, it was clear Natalie had the respect of her players. She took on the role with determination and immediately fostered a culture of trust, hard work, and excellence. Her ability to develop her athletes personally, academically, and spiritually, both on and off the court is truly remarkable. This award is a testament to her leadership, and we are incredibly proud of her success." - Stephen Clements, Interim Athletic Director, Briercrest College.
This prestigious award will be recognized at the 2025 ACAC Women’s Volleyball Championship hosted by the Augustana Vikings in Camrose, AB from February 20-22.
– 30 –
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
Kayla Beers, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
kaylab@acac.ab.ca