BARRHEAD - The Alberta Schools Athletic Association (ASAA) inducted Rod Callihoo, a former Barrhead teacher and coach, into its Hall of Fame last month.
“The Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association proudly enshrines a true titan of high school coaching, Rod Callihoo, into its Hall of Fame!” said the ASAA on their Facebook page.
“He has been an architect of success, the builder of character and a profound influence on countless student athletes in Alberta.”
Callihoo achieved an amazing 80 per cent win rate through his career legacy coaching the Gryphons.
He mentored 25 athletes who played post-secondary and professional volleyball.
Under his tutelage athletes reached career heights of their dreams.
Teams coached by Callihoo achieved 44 gold medals and 22 silver medals of 96 tournaments played according to ASAA.
In Zone championships, teamed mentored by Callihoo won 9 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medal.
In Provincial competitions from 2008 to 2022, 14 historic years, Callihoo’s teams won gold in seven years, silver in four years, and bronze one year.
Callihoo has carried on his passion and support of volleyball leading the U19 Mens’ Alberta volleyball team to winning gold in Halifax at the North American Indigenous Games in the summer of 2024.
“His unparalleled level of commitment, the sacrifices he made, and the positive influence he has had on countless young lives epitomize the very qualities we seek in a coach,” said ASAA.
Callihoo has been recognized through the years for his brilliance as a coach.
In September 2023 over one hundred people gathered to honour Callihoo and three other influential coaches.
Callihoo announced his retirement from coaching at this event.
He referred to himself as the luckiest man in the world as he reflected on being head coach and his years of milestones in that role.
"I have been able to see the commitment of hundreds of athletes, guys who wanted to be better than their brothers, guys who wanted to win," said Callihoo reported in the Barrhead Leader.
"That is the key. I was just lucky to be the one who was able to organize it all."
In his first year as head coach the Gryphons achieved gold in the provincials.
Callihoo attended Barrhead Composite High School and accepted a junior high teacher position at the school in 1998.
He coached girls’ volleyball and strived to coach the senior boys team.
When Callihoo and his wife Michelle started their family, he took a break from coaching and returned in 2008 as an assistant coach with the Senior Gryphons boys volleyball team.
A year later his chance at the Head Coach spot opened up and his place in the history books was cemented.
Volleyball was not the only sport Callihoo excelled at and in 2016 he received a prestigious award from the North Central Alberta Baseball League.
In a ceremony in August 2016, Callihoo was honored with the Ken Schultz Memorial Award in recognition of his distinguished contributions to the game of baseball.
He was nominated by Barbara Sabiston for this award remarking that he has been an instrumental part of local baseball.
Callihoo started playing baseball with the Barrhead Orioles in 1982 and started coaching in 2004 which he did for five years.
In 2005 he moved into an executive role for Barrhead’s minor baseball association.
“I had a lot of help from a lot of families who helped get competitive ball back in Barrhead,” said Callihoo at the time.
“We had a really great group of parents, and they helped with everything from managing and coaching to maintaining the field. I may be the one recognized but it’s really a team award.”
