York volleyball coach returns from stint in Mexico

Hernan Humana, York Lions women’s volleyball coach, recently returned from the International Clinic of Volleyball Coaches in Acapulco, Mexico, where he was the head instructor of the beach volleyball seminars. The clinic was attended by the top 147 coaches in Mexico, including university, professional and national team level coaches.



Right: Hernan Humana


Humana, who has coached at York for the past seven years, was invited to be an instructor at the clinic by the Mexican Volleyball Association. He joined legendary Italian national team coach, Julio Velasco, who was the head instructor of the indoor seminars.


In 1996, Humana was named head coach of the Canadian Olympic beach volleyball team of John Child and Mark Heese. The pair won a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta games, the first-ever Olympic medal for Canada in volleyball. As a result of this performance, the Coaching Association of Canada presented Humana with the prestigious Wittnauer Coaching Excellence Award. Humana also coached the team to a fifth place finish at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.


In 1997-1998, his first year as head coach of York’s women’s team, Humana led the team to an appearance in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Championship and was named OUA Coach of the Year.


A native of Chile, Humana received his Licenciatura (physical education) degree from the University of Chile prior to moving to Canada. He played 11 seasons with the Chilean national volleyball team and also coached the country’s juvenile national team.


In Canada, Humana attended York University, playing for men’s head coach Wally Dyba in 1980-1981. As a student, Humana completed two programs at York, an advanced coaching certificate and a master’s degree in sociology of sport.