Celeste Witzell Named Head Coach of Women's Volleyball

The Conestoga Condors are proud to announce the appointment of Celeste Witzell as the new Head Coach of the Women’s Volleyball program.  

Witzell brings a dynamic blend of athletic excellence, leadership experience, and a team-first philosophy to the Condors. A standout student-athlete at York University, she appeared in 80 matches across five seasons, averaging an impressive 2.82 points per set and accumulating over 850 points in her career. Her on-court success was matched by her leadership, serving as a team captain and earning recognition as both a two-time Team MVP and a First and Second Team OUA All-Star. Beyond athletics, Celeste demonstrated a strong commitment to academics, earning CIS Academic All-Canadian honours and several prestigious academic awards. 

A proud product of the Kitchener-Waterloo volleyball community, Witzell’s passion for the sport runs deep. After graduating from York, she spent five years coaching with the Waterloo Tigers, leading the same group of athletes from their 14U to 18U seasons. That experience helped solidify her belief in the transformative power of coaching—a belief she now brings to her leadership of the Condors. 

“Playing university volleyball was one of the most impactful experiences of my life,” Witzell shared. “It’s about more than just competition; it’s a family. As a coach, I want to help create that same supportive environment where athletes can thrive on and off the court.” 

After joining the Conestoga coaching staff this past season as an assistant, Witzell is excited to step into the head coaching role, with a vision focused on growth, culture, and development. 

“There’s so much potential here,” she said. “We have a strong core of returning athletes and some exciting new recruits joining us. I’m eager to continue building a program centred on discipline, hard work, and accountability—where success is measured not only by wins but by the growth of our student-athletes as players, teammates, and individuals.” 

Witzell describes her coaching style as “person-first,” believing that supporting the individual leads to greater athletic success. Her goal is to foster a team culture rooted in trust, vulnerability, and unity, emphasizing the importance of building relationships and good habits both on and off the court.  

One of her proudest moments this past season came when the Condors Women’s Volleyball team became the first ever 8 seed to upset a 1 seed in the OCAA playoffs, a testament to the team’s growth and resilience. “Seeing the athletes' hard work pay off in such a big way was incredibly special. Moments like that are what it's all about.” 

On behalf of the Conestoga Condors, Matthew Schnarr, Manager of Varsity and Community Engagement and former Head Coach of Women’s Volleyball, shared his support: 

“The Condor Athletics Department is proud to introduce Celeste as the new Head Coach of our Women’s Volleyball program. Having worked alongside her this past season, I quickly saw the leadership qualities and deep volleyball knowledge she brings to the team. We’re confident in her ability to elevate the program on the court while fostering a strong, supportive culture off it.” 

With Coach Witzell now at the helm, the Condors are poised for an exciting new chapter. The entire Condors community is looking forward to the season ahead and the continued growth of women’s volleyball at Conestoga! 

Welcome to your new role, Coach Witzell!  
 
#StrivingToSoar