For the seventh time in her 19-year coaching tenure, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues head coach Kristine Drakich has been named the OUA East Coach of the Year.  She was previously honoured with the award in 1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2001 and 2004.

Under her direction, the Blues have qualified for 18 consecutive OUA Final Four appearances, winning the OUA championship banner six times.  This year she has led the Blues to a 17-2 regular season record and No. 9 in the CIS rankings. She will again look to bring her squad back to the finals at this weekend’s OUA Final Four.

Drakich is a highly qualified NCCP coach with a Level 4 certification indoors and a Level 3 certification on the beach. She has coached internationally in both indoor and beach, having coached team Canada at the 19U World Beach Volleyball Championships in 2006 and 2007, and the national junior indoor team at the Norceca Championship in 2002.

A former captain and all-Canadian with the Varsity Blues, Drakich was a member of Canada’s national volleyball and beach volleyball teams and was a 2001 inductee into the University of Toronto’s Sports Hall of Fame.