by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN — Dave Dobson is a quiet man, doesn’t want attention drawn to him. But, following an awards ceremony Saturday night, it’s hard for him to stay out of the limelight – for a little while anyways.
Mr. Dobson was one of three recipients presented with the Diane Wood Award for Outstanding Contribution to Volleyball in Ontario at the Ottawa Volleyball Association’s banquet held Saturday night, Aug. 20 in Toronto.
But, this isn’t the first volleyball award Mr. Dobson has received. There are five awards presented by the OVA (Ottawa Volleyball Association) and he has now received them all. He has received the Coach of the Year Award, Volunteer of the Year Award, an achievement award and a recognition award.
He said following the awards banquet, a party was held for him by former college friends, as well as students from the very first volleyball team he coached.
A graduate of Opeongo High School, Mr. Dobson, fondly known as Mr. Volleyball, has been coaching the sport since his first teaching position at Donaven Collegiate in Ottawa.
“In 1974 I started coaching volleyball,” he recalled. “There was a keen group of kids who drew me in.”
In 1977, he became the head coach of the men’s volleyball program at Durham College. During his time at Durham the men’s team won several Ontario College Athletic Association silver and bronze medals, including an Ontario gold in 1987. He has been named the OCAA Coach of the Year four times and has been well recognized by both provincial and national coaching associations for his dedication to volleyball.
Mr. Dobson recalls being named an honourary coach of the Canadian Olympic team in 1991 for an exhibition game played against Team Russia. This was because he had previously coached three of Team Canada’s players, namely Dustin Reid, Steve Brinkman and Chris Wolfenden.
“It was the only Ontario stop on the tour and it was the only time we beat Russia on the tour,” he recalled.
When Mr. Dobson returned to the Cobden area following his teaching retirement 12 few years ago, he figured he was done coaching the sport. However, there was no volleyball coach at Opeongo High School so he agreed to be the coach of the junior boys that year, and has coached each year since.
In 2013, Mr. Dobson started the Ottawa Valley Vikings Volleyball Club with just one team and that has now grown to three this year. He’s hoping that number will increase as the years go by. There will volleyball tryouts at Fellowes High School in Pembroke the first week of school.
“There’s a lot of volleyball talent in the area,” he said. “It’ll thrive. I’ve noticed a difference in the high school students, they’re getting stronger and stronger.
“There’s a new dimension to volleyball here,” Mr. Dobson continued. “In the near future, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a local high school win at (the provincial championship).”
He figures over the years, he has coached about 120 teams in high school, college and clubs.
In October, Mr. Dobson is taking the Opeongo High School senior girls volleyball team to Nova Scotia for a tournament at Dalhousie University. Since learning they were going, and $6,500 was required to make the trip a reality, the girls have been hosting a variety of fundraisers. He figures about 75 percent of the funds have been raised, with just a few more weeks to go to earn the rest.
During the Cobden Fair this past weekend, the girls were in the Cobden Agricultural Society’s food booth as a fundraiser, since the society was donating $500 towards their trip. They have also sold hotdogs and hamburgers outside Foodland in Eganville. On Sunday, Sept. 18 there’s a bid euchre and four-hand euchre tournament at the Eganville Legion.
Mr. Dobson said if it wasn’t for him agreeing to drive a school bus for the girls to Nova Scotia, the trip would most likely not be a reality, because the flight tickets were going to set them back $16,000.
“The transportation cost is now $6,000 as opposed to $16,000,” he quipped.
There are 12 girls and nine parents from OHS going on the trip.
Throughout the summer months, along with all their other summer activities, the girls trained weekly at the Eganville Legion field.
“They’re hard working girls and just a real pleasure to coach,” Mr. Dobson said.
He believes this will be his final hurrah at coaching, although these are words he has spoken before.
“I believe I’ve given all I can give to volleyball,” Mr. Dobson said. “It’s been my life.
“I’m looking more to retirement.”
