For 30 years, one man has been in charge of the Humber Hawks men’s volleyball team, and he isn’t looking to step down any time soon.
Wayne Wilkin, 57, began his coaching journey during the 1995-96 season, which he led the Hawks to an Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) silver medal.
Since then, Wilkins would change the entirety of the program that had two OCAA championships to its name to a team on par with the most in history (11).
Growing up in Blind River, Ont., he said volleyball wasn’t the first sport he started, as he was a football player in high school at Westview Centennial.
“I was actually a football player. The program kind of got strapped in high school, and coach said, ‘Hey, you're pretty athletic, why don't you go try and play another couple of sports?’," Wilkins said.
“I made my shot at basketball, wasn't very good and made my way to the volleyball court and coach liked me, took me on, and the journey began,” he said.
With the story shifted in Wilkin's life, he began his career with the Humber Hawks as a player and played for four seasons, which saw him win an OCAA silver medal and be named the Most Valuable Player during the 1993-94 season. In that same season, Wilkin's brother, Chris, was part of the coaching staff, who is now the women’s head coach.
When Wilkins took over the coaching tenure, his brother became one of his setters in the 1996-97 season.
“For me, being a young coach, [and] him being a young player, I thought we handled it pretty well,” he said. “Thirty years later, we're still friends.”
He had the opportunity to coach his own brother, but having his children play for Humber was special as well.
Wilkin's son, Kamyn, played under him for four seasons, while his daughter, Kyla, played for five.
“I've had the honour of having my two children come to Humber, and they played through their eligibility years,” he said. “I've raised my family here [and] we're a volleyball family at home.”
While Wilkins had the opportunity to witness his family and relatives play for the volleyball program, one person has been on his journey with him as well.
His assistant coach, Hank Ma, has been by his side for nearly three decades, helping build Humber as the program it is today.
Wilkins said their relationship is complementary.
“It's the yin and yang, him and I,” he said. “I'm a bit more verbose. I'm out there, a little more motivator, but Hank [Ma] is our tactical guy.”
Ma said years of being side-by-side with him have created an understanding between them.
“I know how he thinks; he knows how I think. We complement each other,” he said. “He has certain skills, I have certain skill and together we are able to make this program special.”
The duo's first special moment was leading Humber to its first perfect season, going undefeated and winning the OCAA championship after a 30-year drought.
“We ended up having to overcome some adversity at that time. It was a bunch of guys who really didn't play as well together at the beginning,” Ma said.
“We were able to put it together at the end, and I think it was special because everyone ended up kind of pushing to get to this point.”
Wilkins has seen out many players throughout the years, with some going professional or others going into coaching.
His coaching staff also includes two assistant coaches who’ve played under him.
Christopher Bowen, who played under Wilkins for five years, said the transition from player to coach was a different experience.
“It was definitely a difficult transition period, but being a part of this program and learning from these other three very experienced coaches is a pleasure. I don't take it for granted,” he said.
For Wilkins, seeing his former players return to the sport shows that the program has built something lasting.
He said people ask when he plans to retire or pass the torch to someone else.
Wilkins said that he’ll know when his time in the sport is over.
“When I wake up in the morning, and I don't want to come to practice, or I don't want to compete, I'll know,” he said. “We're not anywhere close to that.
“I love what I do. I love helping these young men in their journey, and I love winning.”
