This season, John is coaching the 17UG CONDORS / 18UG WINGS. In addition to his role as Club President, John serves as Program Coordinator and General Administrator. John is a certified Advanced Development Coach (Level 2 NCCP) and a Gymnastics Development Coach. He also has a Development Coaching Certification from the Swiss Volleyball Federation. Aside from player and team coaching, John’s focus as President is on overall club development and growth, notably coach recruitment, effective funding and exploring new programs and opportunities to expand the future of Toronto West. John is a 1969 founding Director of Toronto West.
Byron has a long history with Toronto West, having competed on numerous Provincial Championship Teams from 2003 until 2007. After serving as Assistant Coach since 2007, Byron assumed his own team as head coach in 2015. This season, Byron is working to complete his Advanced Development Coaching Certification (Level 2 NCCP). On top of this, he has also completed his Advanced Certification in Cheerleading and Level 1 Trampoline. Byron’s outstanding coaching skills also make him an asset to other teams as a specialist trainer.
Anwar Diouman, Advanced Performance Coach (NCCP Level 3), hails from Mauritius where he coached various Men’s & Women’s club and National Teams to international success, notably winning a Gold Medal at the African Continental Championship in 1996 and a 13th place in the 1997 World Junior Championship. Anwar’s past teams have experienced much success: 17U Boys Premier Champions in 2010 and Toronto West 18U Girls to Division 1, Tier 2 Bronze in 2013. Anwar is a source of guidance & support to all our coaches and teams.
Active in club volleyball since the early 2000s, Ed brings decades of deep volleyball knowledge and high-level coaching experience to Toronto West VBC. Certified as an Advanced Development Coach (Level 2 NCCP), his involvement in the Ontario Volleyball Association includes past contributions as a Coach Evaluator and Regional Executive. Over his coaching career, Ed has guided athletes across both Beach Volleyball and Indoor Boys Volleyball to top-tier success, earning multiple Provincial and National Championship Gold Medals at the highest competitive levels.
On the court, Ed combines a passion for athlete development with the analytical discipline of his background in aerospace engineering. His coaching methodology centers on technical precision, tactical execution, positional awareness, and match video review. Ed is dedicated to building resilient, high-performing teams grounded in strong fundamentals, effective court communication, and a shared commitment to continuous improvement.
Sierra planted her volleyball roots with the OVA in the mid-2000s and completed her playing career with Toronto West. The highlight of her youth playing career was competing in Las Vegas in 2014 at 18U under Coach Anwar, where she was also awarded Most Spirited Player alongside fellow player and now coach, Taylor Pracek.
After graduating from University, Sierra returned to T-WEST and assisted Byron in coaching the original FALCONS until 2020. Following the completion of her MA studies, she took on her first head coaching role with the 14U IMPERIALS in 2021. Over the following seasons, Sierra guided the Imperials through their development and growth, building a strong team culture and continuing to develop her own coaching experience along the way.
With the graduation of the IMPERIALS, Sierra is excited to begin a new chapter as Head Coach of the CARDINALS. She looks forward to bringing her experience, energy, and passion for volleyball to a new group of athletes while continuing to help young players grow in confidence, skill, and love for the game.
Sierra is excited for the season ahead and looks forward to another great year with T-WEST.
Richard has been a valued member of the T-WEST coaching team since 2014. Richard’s extensive experience as a post-secondary Libero with George Brown College and his active involvement in Asian ten-man volleyball have provided him with strong and effective leadership ability. In his role as Co-Head Coach for the DRAGONS, Richard is planting the seeds of inspiration and motivation in his young athletes’ minds.
Casandra is a 2020 graduate of Coach Byron’s Falcons, where over five seasons she developed her passion for volleyball and for the people who make up the Toronto West community. Following her playing career, Casandra quickly became involved on the coaching side of the club, supporting Sierra and the Imperials and becoming a valued member of the T-WEST coaching staff.
After several seasons with the Imperials, Casandra is excited to continue building on that experience as she returns for another season as Co-Coach of the HAWKS. Her commitment to athlete development, team culture, and creating a positive environment has become an important part of her coaching approach.
This season also marks an exciting new chapter as Casandra takes on the CARDINALS. She looks forward to bringing her experience, energy, and passion for the game to both teams while continuing to grow as a coach and help the next generation of T-WEST athletes develop their skills and confidence.
Casandra is excited for another great season and looks forward to seeing both teams grow, compete, and enjoy the game of volleyball.
Toni played under Coach Byron's Falcons for five seasons until her graduation in 2020. Through her volleyball career, she developed a passion for interacting with the people that make up the Toronto West Volleyball Club and began looking for ways to extend her experience working in sports. Toni is also apart of the Ontario Volleyball Association and Ashbridges Bay Beach Volleyball Digital Communications departments, working on creating valuable content for their social media. Despite her busy schedule, Toni finds time to Co-Coach the 15UG Hawks and act as the official Club Photographer. Toni has been most successful in managing, teaching, and relating to her young athletes to the extent that she bench-coached her previous team to a Gold medal in the 2022 Provincial Championships! Toni looks forward to another rewarding season of developing athletes, building team culture, and competing with the 15U Hawks.
Taylor found her volleyball roots with Toronto West in the early 2010s and has remained connected to the club both on and off the court. The highlight of her playing career was competing in Las Vegas in 2014 under Coach Anwar, where she was also awarded Most Spirited alongside fellow player and now coach, Sierra Archee.
After graduating from the University of Guelph in 2018, Taylor returned to Toronto West as an Assistant Coach with the WINGS and HAWKS. Since then, she has continued to support the club by applying her background in marketing and business to a variety of administrative and organizational roles, helping contribute to the ongoing growth of T-WEST.
Taylor has now taken the next step in her coaching journey as Co-Head Coach of the TLS FALCONS. Following a successful first season, she is excited to build on that experience and looks forward to another great year of developing athletes, building team culture, and sharing her passion for the game with the next generation of Toronto West players.
Claire began her coaching journey with Toronto West in 2012 and has remained passionate about helping young athletes grow both on and off the court. Over the years, she has had the opportunity to work with teams ranging from 15U to 18U, gaining valuable experience in developing players, building team culture, and creating a positive and supportive volleyball environment.
After taking a two-year break from coaching to complete teacher’s college, Claire returned to Toronto West and has continued to share her experience and enthusiasm for the game with the next generation of athletes. Her background in education complements her coaching approach, with a focus on building confidence, teamwork, and a strong understanding of the game.
Claire is excited to continue her coaching journey with the 17U CONDORS and looks forward to another great season of learning, competing, and helping the athletes reach their potential.
Samuel brings a passion for volleyball, teamwork, and athlete development to the Toronto West coaching community. With a strong appreciation for the game and the positive impact that sport can have on young athletes, he is excited to continue growing his coaching experience and contributing to the development of the next generation of players.
As Co-Coach of the 17U Dragons, Samuel is looking forward to working alongside the coaching staff to create a positive, competitive, and supportive team environment. He is passionate about helping athletes build confidence, develop their skills, and learn the value of communication, commitment, and teamwork both on and off the court.
Samuel is excited for the season ahead and looks forward to supporting the Dragons as they continue to grow, compete, and enjoy the game of volleyball.
Alba began playing volleyball at a young age and joined Toronto West Volleyball Club as a player in 2016, where she excelled as a Libero. Following her 18U season, she continued her playing career at the post-secondary level with Seneca College. In the summer of 2023, Alba returned to Toronto West as a coach and has since worked with four teams at the club, including taking on the unique challenge of assisting with multiple teams in the same season. Her experience, knowledge, infectious positivity, and high energy have made her a valued member of the Toronto West coaching family.
Alba is passionate about developing young athletes and helping them build the skills, confidence, discipline, and mindset needed to pursue successful volleyball careers. Having experienced the Toronto West family as both a player and a coach, she values the supportive and welcoming environment the club provides. Alba is excited to take the next step in her coaching journey as the Head Coach of the 13U Eagles Boys team, where she looks forward to creating a positive, competitive, and supportive environment that inspires her athletes to grow, challenge themselves, and love the game.
Mara joined Toronto West Volleyball Club as a player in 2016, where she thrived under the mentorship of coaches Anwar and John. Following her 18U season, she attended the University of Toronto, graduating in 2023. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Chiropractic degree and is expected to graduate in May 2027.
In 2024, Mara returned to Toronto West as a coach and is now entering her third season with the club. This season, she will be coaching the 16U Sparrows and 14U Falcons, continuing to share her passion for the sport with the next generation of athletes.
Mara's passion for volleyball, sport, and exercise, combined with her experience as both a player and coach, gives her a unique perspective on athlete development. She is committed to helping young athletes grow both physically and mentally, fostering confidence, resilience, and a positive mindset both on and off the court. We are excited to have Mara continue her Toronto West journey and make a lasting impact on our athletes this season.
Andre has been involved in volleyball since his school years, competing throughout high school and receiving an opportunity to play at the college level before pursuing a career in the skilled trades. He began coaching volleyball and basketball during elementary school and returned to coaching in 2025 as a volunteer with the Toronto West 13U Falcons.
As a licensed plumber and gas technician, Andre brings teamwork, discipline and a strong work ethic to his coaching. He is committed to supporting young athletes as they develop their skills, confidence and appreciation for the sport.
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