Barrett named Toronto Varsity Blues men's volleyball head coach

Source: Toronto Sports Info

TORONTO - The University of Toronto Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education announced today the appointment of John Barrett as head coach of the Varsity Blues men’s volleyball program effective August 1, 2012.
 
 A former CIS all-Canadian, CIS national champion and national team member, Barrett shreds the interim title he assumed last summer after serving as an assistant coach with the Blues since 2006.
 
 “We’re excited to have John join our Varsity Blues coaching staff,” said Beth Ali, director of intercollegiate and high performance sport. “His knowledge of the game and rapport with the student-athletes is uncontested and I’m looking forward to seeing the team develop.”
 
Barrett’s coaching resume speaks for itself. He’s been involved with the national beach program since 2002 and was named the head coach of Canada’s beach volleyball team for the 2003 Pan American Games.
 
 “I am thrilled to have this opportunity to work with such a great group of student-athletes and help U of T rebuild the men’s volleyball program to the prominence it once had,” said Barrett. “It’s an especially exciting time with the construction of the new Goldring Centre underway, which will undoubtedly help attract some of the best athletes in the country.”
 
 While serving as an assistant with the Blues, Barrett also coached at the national beach volleyball practice centre and was an active member of the national team selection committee. In 2007, Barrett guided his men’s indoor volleyball team to an Ontario championship and was then asked to represent Canada at an international competition in El Salvador.
 
Following his high school graduation in 1981, Barrett enrolled at the University of Calgary and joined Canada’s men’s indoor volleyball team. His 15-year career with the national program was highlighted by his participation in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Barrett played his final year in the CIS at the University of Manitoba (1984-85) before moving onto to a productive 12-year professional career in Italy - the number one professional league in the world.