Dream Big, Work Hard, Make it Happen: Wayne Wilkins and 30 years of Humber volleyball

By: Fernando Bossoes
Humber Athletics Communications

Thirty years. A lot can happen in three decades. If we take a trip back to 1995, the world looked completely different. 

The Toronto Raptors were making their NBA debut, the internet was in its early stages, PlayStation just made its North American debut, and Yahoo! was rising in popularity. For most people, those are the big headlines of 1995. 

But another story was beginning that very same year inside the Humber gym. A story about love, passion and family that has lasted three decades and is still counting. 

And that story has one word: Wilkins. 

Head coach Wayne Wilkins is entering his 30th year at the helm of the Humber men's volleyball program. To understand the symbiotic relationship between Humber volleyball and the Wilkins family, you have to look past the trophies and records and go back to the very beginning. 

It wasn't until high school that Wilkins started playing the sport. He grew up playing football and only had his first contact with volleyball in grade 10, when his school cancelled its football program. 

He tried basketball next, but "I wasn't quite good," he admitted. Then the school's volleyball coach encouraged him to try out, and everything changed. 

That coach at Westview Centennial Secondary School, Phil Brown, was also Humber men's volleyball head coach at the time. Brown recruited Wilkins to play volleyball for Humber, but by the time he arrived on campus, Amer Haddad, a member of the Lebanese national team, had been named the new head coach. Two seasons under Haddad were followed by two more under Steve Corbin, where Wayne helped Humber capture an OCAA silver medal in the 1993-94 season. 

After graduating, Corbin invited Wilkins to join the coaching staff as an assistant coach. A year later, in 1995, the head coach position opened once again. 

Wilkins remembers walking into the office of former athletic director Doug Fox and seeing a list of ten interview candidates, with his name printed at the bottom. They didn't talk about lineups, systems, or tactics; instead, Wilkins talked about supporting student-athletes and building an environment where learning would lead to success. 

"I think Doug loved the story and was willing to take a chance on a really young coach, so he gave me my start as a head coach," Wilkins said. 

In his debut season, Derek Lacroix wrote in Humber's student newspaper, Humber Et Cetera, after an alumni game: 

"Head coach Wayne Wilkins, in his first season coaching, said the victory was encouraging." 

The rest is history. 

Seventeen OCAA medals (nine gold, six silver and two bronze). Four CCAA national medals (one gold, two silver and one bronze). A two-time CCAA Coach of the Year. A three-time OCAA Coach of the Year. And a current 449-146 career record — to name a few. 

He has coached 11 CCAA All-Canadian athletes and 64 All-Ontario selections, and while many may think he is getting closer to retirement, last year's five-peat suggests he may have unlocked the blueprint for dominance. 

Many attribute that success to Wilkins' famous notebook, which he carries to every game. On the cover is his mantra. 

"Dream Big. Work Hard. Make it Happen."

"I think he's just trying to look cool by having that notebook," his brother and Humber women's volleyball head coach Chris Wilkins joked. "I don't know what he writes in that thing, but there are a lot of coaches in the league who would love to get a hold of that book." 

Wilkins explained that without Dream Big, Humber would have never won a national championship. Work Hard means harder than anyone else. And at the end of the day, you have to Make it Happen.

"There's been lots of help along the way, obviously. Hank [assistant coach Hank Ma] and I have been friends for over 30 years, and have been coaching together for over 25. I think it proves the dedication that's required if you want to do anything," Wilkins said. 

Looking back, Wilkins never imagined he would coach the Hawks for the next three decades. 

"At that time I didn't know what was going to happen in the next three months, never mind 30 years," he said with a laugh. 

He wanted to give back to the sport that gave him so much, stay connected to his community and help athletes grow. And yes, his competitive fire played a part. 

"I'm a competitor at heart, and if I wasn't able to win a championship as a player, I was going to make my own staff, be the head coach and win a championship," Wilkins said. 

° ° ° ° °

For Wilkins, Humber is his second home. 

He said many of his children's early memories are inside the Humber gym. He often jokes that he has been in the building longer than most of the furniture. 

Wilkins said Humber volleyball has been an anchor for his family. Wilkins coached his son, Kamyn, while his daughter, Kyla, was coached by his brother, Chris. 

Humber volleyball and the Wilkins family are synonyms. 

"If you go into any of our households, we probably have more Humber clothes than we have regular clothes," Chris Wilkins said. "We talk about it [Humber] during Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner; it's the lifeblood of our families." 

And over 30 years, Wilkins has coached the children of his former teammates.

He played with former player and Humber All-Century Team member Ken Phillips and now coaches his son, Kyle Gray-Phillips. 

"I remember picking up Kyle as a baby. So to have that full circle moment to coach him, that's a little surreal," Wilkins said.

Gray-Phillips has played with former Hawks Jake Gomes and Jaskarn Kalsi, two athletes who speak about Wilkins the same way his family does. 

"To be honest, I was [first] scared of him," Gomes said. But soon realized how sweet and genuine Wilkins is." 

Gomes said Wilkins has become his second dad and best friend. He added that Coach Wilkins cares deeply about victories, but even more about ensuring his players grow and succeed as human beings. 

Kalsi said Wilkins' biggest lessons were accountability and high standards. 

"His goal is to help these young boys come into college and help them grow and leave as young men, tax-paying citizens," Kalsi said. "He does put an emphasis on you being not just a better volleyball player, but a better man as well." 

Those close relationships with players have led to some hilarious stories. 

Gomes remembers that in 2017, Wilkins told his players that if they won a particular match, they could shave his facial hair, and he would have to coach Humber's home opener with whatever look they chose. 

On Nov. 15, 2017, against the Conestoga Condors, the Hawks' Nest witnessed one of the funniest, if not the funniest, coaching sidelines appearances in its history. A victorious coach and outstanding human being, Wilkins' resume naturally catches the attention of other institutions. 

He said he receives emails every year offering opportunities elsewhere, but his place has always been at Humber. 

"I know what we have here at Humber is special. I've raised my kids here, I've had a family here, and this is like family to us," Wilkins said. "It would be kind of leaving your family to go coach somewhere else, which lots of people do for many different reasons. I just haven't found a reason yet that's worthwhile enough, because I love it here." 

And retirement? Wilkins said he will know when it's time to put the notebook on the shelf. 

"When I wake up in the morning, and I'm not excited to come to practice, I'm not excited we have a game tomorrow, if I don't get butterflies in my stomach, if I'm not any of those things, I will know it's time," Wilkins said. "I'm just glad it's not yet." 

"Wayne is a coach who prides himself on connection and trust. A coach players feel safe around. A role model to me," Chris Wilkins added. 

Three decades after he sat at the bottom of Fox's interview list, Wilkins now stands as one of the most accomplished coaches in OCAA history. 

With a notebook in hand, his mantra on the cover and a relentless desire to win every single year, Wilkins continues to Dream Big, Work Hard and Make it Happen.

But his measure of success has always been simple. 

"We are producing great people, and they happen to win some volleyball games along the way."