Former coach proud of Sask. Olympian Gavin Schmitt
Volleyball player Gavin Schmitt started his career in Saskatoon
It's not every day that a coach gets to watch one of their former athletes compete in the Olympics.
But that's what Brian Gavlas, coach of the Huskies men's volleyball team, is doing these new few weeks.
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Gavin Schmitt helps put Canadian men's volleyball back on the Olympic map
He coached Gavin Schmitt during his first year as a Huskie, when he was new to volleyball.
Even then, Gavlas knew he had talent.
"When he first started playing, he was still pretty new to the sport. He was long and lanky," said Gavlas.
"There was no doubt. We had big plans for him."
Schmitt, standing at 6-7," was discovered at 19 years old at Fuddruckers in Saskatoon.
Although he only played with the Huskies for a year, he's always been a big part of the Saskatchewan volleyball community and Gavlas is incredibly proud.
"He always comes back. In the off-season he's in Saskatoon. He comes out to our practices when he has an opportunity to," said Gavlas.
"His roots and his ties are to Saskatoon and Saskatchewan and we see him quite often."