Stanko Sport Hall of Fame Inductee
Executive Director of the Ontario Volleyball Association, Orest Stanko was inducted into The University of Toronto Sport Hall of Fame on June 24, 2009. In his 23 seasons as the head coach of the U of T’s Varsity Blues men’s volleyball team, Orest Stanko became the winingest coach in OUA men’s volleyball history.
He guided the Varsity Blues to 14 division championships and a record 13 OUA championships, including five in a row (1991-95), and was a seven-time OUA coach of the year.
In total, Orest led the U of T men’s volleyball team to 14 national championship appearances, with their best finish coming when they earned the CIAU silver medal in 1991.
Orest produced 63 OUA all-stars and 17 all-Canadians, and has seen seven players participate with the Canadian national team. He received U of T’s Thomas R. Loudon Award in 2002 for outstanding service in the advancement of athletics.
In addition to his significant contribution to the Varsity Blues, Orest advanced the sport of volleyball through his roles as tournament director on Volleyball Canada’s national beach tour (1991-2002) and as a member of the Volleyball Canada beach high performance committee (2003-present).
Orest coached the Ontario men’s Canada Games team in 1987 and 1989; over the past 25 years he has coached several National Beach Volleyball Champions; and he was head coach of Canada’s National Beach Volleyball team at the 1997 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, where the Canadian men’s team of Conrad Leinemann and Jody Holden won a gold medal. In 2003, Orest received the Syl Apps Special Achievement Award for recognition of outstanding service to OFSAA and school sport.
Orest is by far the most successful and important men’s volleyball coach at U of T by making the Blues a powerhouse in the OUA and CIS.
Orest Stanko
7T6 MA Political Economy
Builder – Volleyball
