Trent volleyball coach California bound
Peterborough’s volleyball community is losing Tyler Scheerhoorn to sunny California.
The Trent Excalibur men’s assistant and Peterborough Thunder coach has been hired as head coach at the Academy of Volleyball in Redwood near San Francisco.
Scheerhoorn, 27, a Belleville native, has lived in Peterborough for two years and is completing his bachelor of education at Trent University.
He’ll make the move to California in August.
He came to Trent after playing three years of pro volleyball in Austria and Luxembourg. He immersed himself in the local volleyball community. In addition to assisting with Excalibur and Thunder teams, he ran elite youth beach volleyball camps for Invado Volleyball at Beavermead Park and he’s currently doing a placement at the Academy of Student Athlete Development in Whitby.
Scheerhoorn expected to move into the teaching profession until his agent, Juraj Tomasik, notified him of a fulltime coaching opportunity in California working with youth.
“I’m at a good place in my life where I’m finishing up my bachelor of education at Trent and I’ve had some good opportunities here,” he said, “but then my agent showed me this opportunity and it worked out perfectly. I want to take that next step in my coaching journey and California is obviously a beautiful state in the U.S.
“It’s another adventure I want to go on and I’m very excited about it. It allows me to be the best me possible in the coaching realm because so much of their coaching philosophies are totally in line with what I do and believe. I think it’s a great place for me to grow and expand my knowledge and abilities.”
The academy was founded six years ago by Daniele Desiderio, an accomplished pro volleyball player from Italy, and his wife, Olta.
“They moved to California and started up this club and the last few years it’s taken off. It’s now one of the premier clubs in the California region for youth volleyball,” Scheerhoorn said.
He said he’s enjoyed Peterborough and his only regret is the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted much of the 2020 volleyball season.
“Before I came back to Canada, I contacted every volleyball venture in the area because it’s my true passion and love and I can’t sit still,” he said. “I was very blessed that everyone was very much into it and gave me great opportunities. It’s too bad this year has definitely been less (because of the pandemic). Luckily, we have been able to train a little with the Trent men’s varsity team and with Invado we were able to do some sessions. I have been able to work at the academy in Whitby, as well, but it’s definitely less than what we all prefer.
“I had to tell the Trent team and everyone in the past few days before the announcement was made. It’s crazy how in such a short period of time you can create such bonds whether it’s with the athletes, your employers or the entire volleyball culture in the area,” he said.
“That’s kind of the way I coach. I really put my heart out there and really try to show everyone how much I love the sport and help them try to reach the best of their abilities. They definitely weren’t easy conversations, but I think everyone understands this is truly an amazing opportunity that would be very difficult to say no to.”
Scheerhoorn started playing club volleyball with the Northumberland Breakers in Cobourg. He played OUA volleyball for Queen’s for five years before going to Europe.
“I’ve got to travel a lot because of volleyball,” he said. “As soon as I start getting comfortable, I guess I get a kick in the pants saying the next adventure is out there, grab it by the horns. I’m so excited for this next adventure.”