Arnd ‘Lupo’ Ludwig enters his fifth season as men's volleyball head coach in 2024-25, amassing an overall record of 41-51, and a regular season conference record of 29-37, while leading the Herd to the playoffs every year of conference play.
Ludwig's resume is extensive. He was an assistant coach for the women’s national team between 1999-2002, which included a trip to the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He also has eight years of experience as the head coach of Canada’s Women’s National Team, and in the summer of 2023 he was head coach of Canada's U21 indoor national team, leading the squad to a third place finish at the U21 Pan Am Cup.
As Team Canada’s head coach in 2014, he helped the squad move up five spots to 16th overall in the world rankings. A major reason for the shift was the group’s involvement in the Grand Prix and FIVB World Championship. The squad 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, 2015 and 2016. By exposing the team to stiffer competition against different federations (only four players had been to the 2010 World Championship in Japan), they got better and gained confidence. Canada's performance also helped numerous players sign better pro contracts, something Ludwig is very proud of.
Previous to his time at the national level, Ludwig helped develop a young Dresdner SC women’s squad which medaled at the German Championship in each of his last five years, including a first-place finish in 2007. His first coaching gig was with his home town SSV Ulm, where he led the women’s team to a perfect season in his debut in 1998.
As a setter, Ludwig represented his country at the provincial, youth and junior national levels. He also played pro until he was 27, winning a bronze medal in the 2001 European Cup as a member of Dresdner SC. Off the court, Ludwig has a teaching background. He obtained his degree from the University of Paderborn, specializing in math and physical education. He's previously taught at River East Collegiate in Winnipeg, and was also a math and phys ed teacher in Germany between 1995-99.
Ludwig has lived in Winnipeg full time since 2009 along with his wife Loriann (nee Sawatzky) -- a Bisons alum -- and their two sons, Joshua and Samuel.
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