James Gravelle named U SPORTS Coach of the Year

Lancer men’s volleyball head coach James Gravelle has been named the U SPORTS Coach of the Year, as announced at the U SPORTS awards ceremony Thursday evening in Hamilton, ON.

The Lancers produced their best regular season result in program history in 2022-23, and at the helm of their monumental mark was Gravelle.

Gravelle got the best out of his Windsor squad this season, leading them to a 15-5 record and a second-place regular season finish in the OUA. This success also had the Lancers listed in the national ranking’s multiple times, wrapping up the regular season as the No. 5 squad in the country.

In their first ever OUA championship appearance, the Lancers claimed the silver medal, capturing their highest achievement to date in the men’s volleyball program’s history

As OUA coach of the year, Gravelle saw four members of the blue and gold earn all-star status this season and helped guide a well-rounded Windsor team that was effective both offensively and defensively this season. The proof is in the numbers for Gravelle’s group, as they ranked among the provincial leaders in kills per set (4th in OUA), hitting percentage (3rd in OUA), assists per set (4th in OUA), and service aces per set (1st in OUA), digs per set (2nd in OUA), blocks per set (2nd in OUA), and points per set (1st in OUA).

The Windsor, Ont. local and former Lancer men’s volleyball player himself joined his alma mater in 2013 and in wrapping up his 10th season as the team’s bench boss, earns his first conference coach of the year selection.

“On behalf of the Windsor Lancers family I congratulate Coach Gravelle on his selection as U SPORTS coach of the year,” said athletic director Stephanie White. “James demonstrates daily the quality of his coaching; with his record of accomplishment and team achievements we are pleased to see him receive national recognition. His program has been a source of great pride and inspiration for our University.”