Northland Sports Online

Patenaude Receives Prestigious Volleyball Award

June 21

Kerry Rodd-NSO


Longtime Northland volleyball club coach Mike Patenaude was recently named the recipient of the 2010 Robert L. Lindsay Meritorious Award. The Lindsay Award is given annually in appreciation of members of USA Volleyball that demonstrate outstanding service and commitment to furthering and enhancing the game of volleyball.

“I am very humbled by this award,” said Patenaude. “Coaching and administrating has its challenges, but when one receives the highest recognition from your peers and an organization that I have so much respect for, it makes the challenges seem small and motivates me to continue to press the values that I work so hard to instill in our club, its coaches and our kids.”

Patenaude is the Juniors Program Director for Northland Volleyball Club, located in Cloquet. He helped found the club in the summer of 1993. In 2006, NVC made a decision to join USA Volleyball and the North Country Region and sponsor Junior Olympic teams. That year, NVC started with 37 players and four teams from Cloquet’s volleyball program. Following the first season under Patnaude’s direction, NVC’s junior’s program continued to grow in numbers with the addition of players from Esko High School. The 2010 season also saw growth and more diversity as NVC added players from many of the other Carlton County area high schools. Currently NVC has 12 teams and 14 coaches.

“As much as I am honored by this, I have to give credit and share this award with the coaches of NVC,” mentioned Patenaude. “These coaches have put in so much work and they strive to carry and promote our missions and values. Without them this would not have been possible.”

During the past four junior seasons Patenaude has coached the top 18 team each year with strong success. This year Patenaude’s U-18 Green team captured 3 out of 5 tournament wins and only lost two matches all season.

Patenaude has coached at Wrenshall High School, Esko High School and most recently was the first coach in history for volleyball at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College.

“One more special thanks goes out to Loran Wappes who has been my best friend and business partner in NVC since the summer of 1993 when we founded Northland Volleyball,” commented Patenaude. “He has always been the voice of reason and the one that helps put me back on the right tack when I slip off.”

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply