Two members of the Red Deer College coaching staff — Aaron Schulha and Clayton Pottinger — have been honoured in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference coach of the year voting.
Schulha, who is in his fifth season with the King’s volleyball squad, was named the ACAC male coach of the year while Pottinger, in his first season with the RDC Kings, was the ACAC South Division basketball coach of the year.
Schulha led the Kings to first place in the ACAC with a 16-4 record and they head into the ACAC championship, which is hosted by Briercrest, this weekend in Moose Jaw as the No. 1 seed.
During his time at RDC Schulha has led the Kings to a second and a third in the ACAC playoffs and a berth at the nationals last year.
Schulha believes in developing players to go on to the next level and during his first four seasons with the Kings has sent 10 players to the CIS. He expects to have at least three players off this year’s squad move up. Schulha has always believed in a strong team philosophy.
“We strive for excellence on the court, but equally as important are the relationships that our student-athletes develop during their time at RDC, and their willingness to be role models for the college community and within Central Alberta,” he said in a news release.
Pottinger is no stranger to the ACAC as he previously coached the King’s University College in Edmonton for five years. He coached with the University of Alberta Golden Bears, the professional Edmonton Energy and with the junior national program.
Last year he was with Douglas College in New Westminster before taking the RDC job on a full time basis.
He was also captain of the Golden Bears during their national championship days.
“I’ve been in the sport my whole life and always felt I was a leader,” he said in a news release. “My biggest life lessons have been learned through sport, and my goal as a coach is to pass some of that along.”
Meanwhile three members of the basketball Kings made the ACAC South Division all-conference team. Forwards Eric Bakker and Rob Pierce were on the first team and guard Lloyd Strickland on the second squad.
In volleyball, Kings outside hitter Quentin Schmidt was named to the first team with setter Jackson Maris on the second squad, along with Red Deer native Darcee Froese of SAIT.
In women’s volleyball, setter Kirsten Sorensen and power hitter Brooke Sutter were on the second team.
l In other news Japan native Mizuki Awai was one of two women selected as ACAC athletes of the week.
Awai and Mary Smith won the ACAC women’s doubles badminton title and will compete in the Canadians, March 1-3 in Kamloops. Overall Awai won seven of her matches at the provincials and was 4-0 in the team competition, which saw RDC finish third.