Historic season for women’s volleyball ends with Dyer receiving ACAC and CCAA Coaching Excellence Awards

Austin Dyer's accolades continue to grow.

This week the head coach of the Lakeland Rustlers women's volleyball team received both the 2024-25 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Overall Coaching Excellence Awardand 2025 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Coaching Excellence Award.

"I am so grateful to win awards like this. It means that I have had a group of athletes buy in to how I am running my program, and they are doing everything they can to be successful in all areas. Whenever someone wins a coaching award, it's always a team award and this is the prime example of that," says Dyer.

Over the last 17 years, the Rustlers women's volleyball program has thrived under Dyer's leadership, with the team qualifying for conference championships every year. 

The 2025-26 season was particularly historic, with the Rustlers completing a perfect 25-0 season – the first undefeated season in the program's history – while winning their third straight CCAA and ACAC championships. Lakeland's women's volleyball program is the first team in the ACAC's 60-year history to win three national titles in a row. 

"Austin has worked extremely hard over his years at Lakeland to build a program that constantly strives for and finds success on the court and in the classroom. Above that, though, is that the student-athletes and coaches under his leadership learn that you become a stronger, more well-rounded person by giving back to the community. Everyone at Lakeland is very proud of Coach Dyer and his achievements," says Alan Rogan, Lakeland's athletic director. 

As Lakeland's longest-serving head coach, Dyer has built a culture of trust with student-athletes, encouraging them to excel academically which is reflected in the team's consistent GPAs of 3.2 or higher, says Rogan. Beyond the court, Dyer's influence extends into the community, where he gives back by leading youth volleyball programs, along with many of his players who serve as coaches.

"In my time building the Rustlers women's volleyball program, I have grown so much as a coach and as a person. As coaches, we are always pushing our athletes to grow in every area, but it is important to look in the mirror and ensure you're growing as a coach as well," says Dyer.

"Lakeland College has allowed me to grow in every area and I am very grateful for that. Rustlers Athletics and our athletic department has evolved and come a long way since I started. This is a testament to my athletic director, Alan Rogan, who has been our leader my whole tenure at Lakeland. As a department, we have worked together to try and grow Rustlers Athletics to be the best we can be. From when I started until now, I have been very happy with the success our department has had and the growth we have shown."

A two-time recipient of the CCAA Women's Volleyball Coach of the Year, Dyer exemplifies leadership, mentorship and a deep commitment to student-athlete development, qualities he has demonstrated over 17 seasons with the Rustlers women's volleyball team.