Steve Milton: McMaster volleyball coach Dave Preston to retire at end of season

The McMaster Marauders are losing the head coach who has made them synonymous with volleyball excellence.

Dave Preston has announced he will retire at the end of the season, after 22 years with the Marauders. The Chatham native played and coached at Western before arriving in Hamilton for the 2002-03 school year and, after a couple of losing seasons, turned the men's program around. It has never come even remotely close to having a sub-.500 season since.

In Preston's tenure, Mac has won 10 OUA titles, including a stunning six in a row from 2012-17, and is undefeated in 13 matches this year as it seeks a second consecutive provincial crown. It'll also host the national championships in mid-March.

Preston has an overall record of 354-89 (302-63 in the OUA), has taken teams to 14 USports championship tournaments, and has been named OUA coach of the year seven times and national coach of the year three times.

Coaching at McMaster has been an honour, and a major part of our lives," Preston said in a release from the university. It's been a true blessing for myself and my family (wife Gloria, daughters, Gabby and Grace). I'm so glad we were able to experience it all together.

I will forever cherish memories of the student-athletes and their families who trusted me with their development. I've also been very fortunate to work with and learn from some amazing coaches and support staff."

Preston's teams have produced 15 all-Canadians and 53 OUA all-stars and have gone head-to-head, and often beaten, some of the best college teams in the United States. Last summer, he was appointed head coach of the Australian national men's team.

Shawn Burt, Mac's director of athletics and recreation, said, The proud legacy of McMaster men's volleyball is attributed to Dave's guidance for the better part of two decades. His fingerprints are all over this program."

The search for a new head coach will begin after the season. Following Preston's retirement, lead assistant coach Ian Eibbitt will serve as interim head coach.

Steve Milton is a Hamilton-based sports columnist at The Spectator. Reach him via email: smilton@thespec.com