Winnipeg - The University of Manitoba Bisons are pleased to announce Arnd Ludwig as the new head coach for the Bisons men's volleyball team.  

"We are excited to welcome Coach Ludwig to the Bisons. Our men's volleyball team is a prestigious and proud program, built by the efforts of retired coach, Garth Pischke and the many exceptional student-athletes that have made their way through the program," said Bisons' Athletic Director, Gene Muller.  "We are starting a new chapter and we look forward to the bright future of the men's volleyball program under Coach Ludwig's leadership."

Arnd Ludwig, also known as "Lupo", comes with an extensive resume. As head coach of the Canadian women's national team from 2009-2016, Ludwig made appearances at the World Championships in Japan in 2010 and Italy in 2014, the Pan American Games in Mexico in 2011 and Toronto in 2015, and the Grand Prix in 2014, 205 and 2016. 

Previous to his time with the Canadian team, Ludwig led the Dresdner SC (Germany) women's team from 2002-2009 where he developed a young team who placed at in the top three, five years in a row and won the German championship in 2007. In 2008, the team won a bronze medal at the European Cup.  He was the assistant coach for Team Germany from 1999-2002, reaching the 2000 Sydney Olympics, European Championships in 2001 and World Grand Prix in 2002.    As a player, Ludwig played professionally in Germany for seven years.  

"I am honoured to be the new head coach for the Bisons men's volleyball team.  I know that I have big shoes to fill and will do all I can to build on the tradition of success that has been established at the University of Manitoba," said Ludwig. "I stepped back from professional coaching a few years ago and after that break I feel energized and motivated to bring excitement and a high standard of excellence to the Bisons men's volleyball program."

Ludwig takes over from legendary coach Garth Pischke who capped off his incredible 39-year career this past June. Pischke built the Bisons men's volleyball program into one of the top programs in the country and led his teams to the national championship tournament 27 times, winning nine gold, nine silver and five bronze medals.

The Bisons finished the 2019-20 season ranked tenth and were set to host the 2020 U SPORTS Volleyball Championship when COVID-19 forced cancellation the day before the tournament began.

Ludwig will begin with the team September 1.  The Bisons men's volleyball season is scheduled to begin in January 2021 with a revised regular season format due to COVID-19. The conference regular season schedule will be released at a later date.