Essex Rebels Appoint Daryl Tay as New Men’s Volleyball Head Coach

The Essex Rebels are delighted to announce the appointment of Daryl Tay as the new Head Coach of the men’s volleyball programme, following the departure of long-term coach, Alex Porter.

Originally from Singapore, Tay has spent the past decade building an impressive coaching career in Finland, where he combined academic study with hands-on experience at the highest levels of the sport. After moving to Finland in 2016 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Sports and Leisure Management, he quickly began applying theory into practice, working with youth teams and honing his skills on the court.

By 2018, Tay was serving as an assistant coach at the Olympic Training Centre in Finland, developing U16 to U20 boys’ and girls’ teams. His progress led to his appointment as Head Coach of the Finnish U17 Girls National Team in 2023, before stepping up to lead Karelian Hurmos, a professional men’s volleyball team competing in Finland’s top division.

Now, after nearly 10 years in Finland, Tay takes on an exciting new challenge in the UK as he becomes Head Coach of the Essex Rebels Men’s Volleyball team.

On his appointment, Daryl Tay said:

“I’m very excited to join the Essex Rebels family. I can’t wait to be there and get started. I’ll work hard and give my very best to the team. We will play and exciting brand of volleyball that supporters can look forward to watch. See all of you in the Arena!” 

Diana Voynova, General Manager of the Essex Rebels, welcomed the appointment of Daryl Tay, saying:

“We are delighted to welcome Daryl to the Rebels family as our new men’s volleyball head coach. His coaching philosophy, leadership style, and passion for developing athletes are exactly what we were looking for to continue the success of our men’s programme. We’re confident Daryl will bring great energy and direction to the team as we continue building for the future.” 

Join us in giving Daryl Tay a warm welcome as he begins this exciting new chapter!