NAIT Ooks men's volleyball head coach Phil Dixon is wearing two hats this summer. He's guiding the Ooks program while also serving as head coach of Alberta's U19 men's volleyball team at the Canada Games in St. John's, Newfoundland.

For Dixon, the opportunity is both an honour and a continuation of his work developing Canada's next generation of volleyball talent.

"It's a great honor to be asked to be the Head Coach of the 18U Team Alberta squad for this extremely talented group of athletes," Dixon said. "Fortunately, I worked with a bunch of them when we took our U19 Team Canada group to Puerto Rico in May 2024, so we already know how each other works."

Balancing athlete development with the drive for national success is at the heart of his approach. Alberta hasn't won gold in men's volleyball at the Canada Games since 2013, and this year's group is determined to change that.

"All these athletes are moving towards university and college careers soon. They understand that it's not fair play at this level and that the players who are executing will be staying on the court while the others may have a supporting role until their opportunity arises," Dixon explained. "It is a balancing act for sure. We are shooting for a medal with this high-performance group."

Six members of the team already competed internationally this summer with Canada's national program in Mexico and Uzbekistan, adding valuable experience to Alberta's roster. What excites Dixon most is watching the group come together under a shared identity.

"Personally, I'm most excited to see this great group of young men come together and show their warrior spirit that we have been training on and off the court," he said. "We've used a Danish phrase, Klar til kamp, to spur the team on. It means Ready to Battle!"

The experience of coaching on the national stage also brings value back to NAIT.

"I believe coaching Canada Games and at NAIT benefit each other," he said. "We've had nationally ranked teams at NAIT for some time now, including winning the 2024 CCAA National Championship. Team Alberta also has a lot ofdepth on our coaching and support staff where new ideas are shared and integrated into summer programs. It's a win-win."

One familiar face is also making the connection; setter Ben Weiss, who will be joining the Ooks this fall, is part of Team Alberta's roster. For Dixon, success at any level comes down to culture.

"Teams will only rise to the level of their intentional culture that is created," he said. "We've had only a short time together as a full team, so we've worked hard at getting guys on the same page with culture, nomenclature, and what defines us as a team."

As he prepares to lead Alberta into competition, Dixon hopes his athletes leave with memories and lessons that extend beyond the court.

"Hoping it's a great experience — on and off the court," he added. "Go' Berta!!"