OTTAWA — Stephane Antiga has stepped down as head coach of the Canadian men's volleyball team after two seasons.
The 42-year-old from Suresnes, France is leaving "for personal reasons," according to a statement Wednesday from Volleyball Canada.
Antiga coached Canada to a bronze medal in the 2017 World League finals and to seventh in the same tournament this year. Canada placed ninth at the world championships in September.
Antiga's family lives in Europe, which was a factor in his decision to return there.
"I have to put my family first, but I will very much miss being involved with the Canadian team," Antiga said in the statement.
He is also the head coach of the Polish League's ONICO Warszawa, based in Warsaw.
A member of the French national team from 1998 to 2010, Antiga replaced Glenn Hoag after the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Hoag, from Sherbrooke, Que., stepped down after leading Canada to its first Olympic appearance in men's volleyball since 1992. Canada reached the quarter-finals before bowing out in a loss to Russia.
"There has been a lot of progress with this team in the past several years, under Glenn Hoag, and I was proud to assist in this tradition of improvement these last two seasons," Antiga said.
The Canadian Press
