Bio

Ryan Marsden joined Olds College in 2018 after a 6-year hiatus in the college game. His last ACAC appearance was the Head Coach for the SAIT Trojans Mens Team from 2007 – 2012. Where he led the team to an ACAC Provincial Championship (2010) and a Silver medal at CCAA Nationals (2010). Prior to that, he coached at Mount Royal University, University of Alberta, and University College of the Cariboo (Thompson Rivers University).

Marsden was selected as ACAC South men's volleyball Coach of the Year in 2019-20, the first in program history, after leading the team to a 6-18 record, the best since 1990-91 and more wins than 2012-19 combined. He followed that up again with ACAC Coach of the Year in 2021-22 and then went on to win the CCAA Coach of the Year for the 2021-22 season. 

In addition to coaching at the post-secondary level, he has also made a name for himself on the National scene. He has been a guest coach at many National Team camps, named Head Coach of the Junior National Team, and was the Head Coach at the Volleyball Canada Centre of Excellence in Calgary. Ryan’s most memorable experience sporting the maple leaf was as an assistant coach for the National B team who won a silver medal at the 2007 FISU games in Bangkok, Thailand. He also served as an assistant coach with the NextGen Men's  national team in 2019. In 2020 and 2021 he was the U21 Men's Junior National Team Head Coach that competed in the World Championships in Bulgaria and finished 10th. 

Marsden is a long serving member in the Provincial Team program having coached multiple indoor teams over the course of his career. In 2009 he was the head coach for the U21 Alberta team who won their first ever Canada Games gold medal in Men's Volleyball. He continues to assist in Team Alberta ID and tryout camps. 

An active member of the club system since he first started coaching in the late 90’s, Marsden founded the Park Volleyball Club in Sherwood Park, AB. Upon moving to Calgary, he has coached at 403 Selects, Dinos Volleyball Club, Canuck Stuff, and most recently Canada West. Highlights in this time are winning 18U provincials in 2001 & 2005.  Also in 2005 he led the 18u Canuck YQM Boys team to a National Championship in Moncton, NB.

Ryan has a proven track record for winning and developing young players. He credits much of his success to team building and his love for the game. He not only excels at game tactics and instruction, but has an interest in every player and strives to bring out the best in them. Marsden doesn’t demand respect, he earns it. This has been shown by the successes of his teams and the recognition by his peers. In 2008-09, 2019-20, and 2021-22; Marsden was the ACAC Coach of the Year. In 2005 he was the awarded the prestigious Tachikara Volleyball Canada 18u Male Coach of the year. And in 2021-22, he was the recipient of the CCAA Coach of the Year Award.

The 6 years away from the game have not been lost on Marsden. He could always be found on a court nearby as he took time to coach his own kids. Ryan and his wife Brandi have 4 children, all of whom have played volleyball at some point amongst many other sports. Bailey (23) is a student at BYUI and plays on their competitive volleyball team. Aspen (21) played soccer and studied at UBCO and is now married. Kya (19) just completed her first year at UBC and on the track and field team. Jaxson (17) goes into his final year of high school and hopes to play volleyball at the next level upon graduation.