Steve Manuel Inducted into CCAA Hall of Fame

Story courtesy of the CCAA

The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) is proud to announce that Steve Manuel is to be inducted into the CCAA Hall of Fame, recognizing his extraordinary coaching career and significant contributions to collegiate volleyball in Canada.

The CCAA Hall of Fame honours the remarkable achievements of individuals who have significantly contributed to Canadian collegiate athletics. The coach category celebrates those whose leadership, mentorship, and competitive excellence have elevated collegiate sport. These coaches have guided and inspired student-athletes to succeed on and off the field of play, leaving a profound and enduring impact on their teams, their institutions, and the broader CCAA community.

Steve Manuel began his coaching journey with Okanagan University College during the 2001-02 season. What followed was a decade of excellence, commitment, and innovation that helped shape the landscape of collegiate volleyball in British Columbia and across the country.

Over ten years at the helm of the Okanagan program, later known as the Okanagan Lakers, Manuel compiled an incredible record of 132 league match wins and only 38 losses. His teams finished first in regular season standings on four separate occasions and consistently contended for top honours at the conference and national championships.

While leading the Lakers, Manuel guided his teams to seven conference championship podium finishes, including three gold and four silver medals. On the national stage, his squads earned five appearances at the CCAA Women’s Volleyball National Championship, where they captured a bronze medal in 2007-08, and back-to-back national titles in 2008-09 and 2009-10—cementing Okanagan’s status as a powerhouse in Canadian collegiate volleyball.

Manuel’s coaching excellence extended far beyond wins and titles. His leadership and mentorship created a culture where student-athletes could thrive both on the court and in the classroom. Over the course of his career, he coached eight CCAA All-Canadians, eight CCAA Academic All-Canadians, and mentored one athlete who earned the honour of CCAA Player of the Year. His commitment to athlete development, both personally and academically, was a defining hallmark of his program.

Manuel was recognized as British Columbia’s Coach of the Year a highly decorated coach five times. He was named CCAA Coach of the Year in 2007-08 and again in 2008-09. In 2008-09, he was honoured with the CCAA Coaching Excellence Award, the association’s highest recognition for coaching achievement across all sports.

“Steve’s legacy of success and his contributions to collegiate athletics make him an exemplary candidate for the Hall of Fame,” reflected Jennifer Naiman, Athletics, Recreation & Student Life Coordinator of Okanagan College. “His dedication and leadership fostered excellence among his athletes and elevated the entire program.”

Steve Manuel’s induction into the CCAA Hall of Fame is a tribute to a decade of unparalleled coaching, mentorship, and contribution to the sport of volleyball. His career not only produced champions but helped set a new standard for what it means to lead with integrity, passion, and purpose in collegiate sport.