Tuomas Sammelvuo steps down as Canada's men's volleyball head coach after becoming father
CBC Sports | Posted: November 22, 2024 5:47 PM | Last Updated: November 22
Squad 10th at Paris Olympics this past summer, reached VNL quarterfinals last year
Tuomas Sammelvuo has resigned as head coach of Canada's men's volleyball team.
Volleyball Canada announced Sammelvuo's departure in a news release Friday and said he and his wife recently welcomed a new baby, which influenced the decision.
"It is with a heavy heart that I've made the decision to step down as head coach of Team Canada," said Sammelvuo in thanking his players and staff.
"We've had two great years together; you have been a fantastic team to coach. I never needed to coach attitude or energy levels. That's why it was so great to be in the gym with this team. Wins and losses fade away, but relationships last forever, and that's what made this decision so difficult."
Sammelvuo was named the men's team head coach in 2022.
He helped the team finish second in its pool at a 2023 qualification tournament and successfully punch its ticket for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Canada finished 10th at the Paris Games and reached the Volleyball Nations League quarterfinals last year.
Originally from Finland, Sammelvuo is currently the head coach of the Polish professional team Asseco Resovia.
Sammelvuo was previously the head coach of the Finnish national team and led Russia to 2019 Volleyball Nations League gold and a silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.