Hall of Fame - Athlete Category

Garth demonstrated this ability first as a high school player at Silver Heights Collegiate (now Sturgeon Heights), as a college player (three CIS championship teams) beginning at the University of Winnipeg and then following at the University of Manitoba, a Canadian National Team player and as a professional in the USA. He first made the Canadian National Team while still in high school (grade 12) and stayed through the 1976 Montreal Olympics and then in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. While at Silver Heights Collegiate, Garth competed in multiple sports (volleyball, basketball, track and field and baseball), with volleyball being his obvious forte. Garth was the MVP of every volleyball team he played for at Silver Heights. At university he played for three CIS Championship teams and was the tournament MVP in two of those years. As a professional Garth was the International Volleyball League Rookie of the year (El Paso) in 1978 and league MVP (Denver) in 1979. At various levels of Canadian championships he has been an All Star twelve times and MVP six times. Just as outstanding, is Garth’s history as a coach. The 2007-08 season was his 28^th as head coach at the University of Manitoba and in those years he has taken his team to the CIS championships 25 times winning 9 gold, 9 silver and 3 bronze medals. He has had 32 of his players go on to be National Team players. As a coach of developmental teams, he has won 3 under 18 national championships, 4 under 20 national championships and 4 “open” national championships. From 1996 to 2000 Garth was coach of Canada’s National men’s team and took them from a ranking of 21^st in the world to a ranking of 10^th. Garth’s son and daughter both played for Team Manitoba at the recent Canada Games. Garth was elected to the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 1989. He was inducted to the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2000 the Canadian Volleyball Hall of Fame welcomed him and probably then most prestigious of all was Garths selection as Manitoba’s Athlete of the Century in 2000.