Father/Daughter Duo Dates Back to the Little Leagues

By Gisselle Rueda, Skyline Reporter

ALPINE – While it may be every kid’s nightmare to have a parent as their coach, that’s far from the experience of Annika Canaba, whose father coaches the Sul Ross State University volleyball and softball teams. 

Their affection and respect for each other could not have been more evident than when Coach Troy Canaba lifted his daughter skyward after winning the 2021 conference tournament, a fitting punctuation mark to a lifetime of teamwork. 

Canaba and his daughter, volleyball and softball player Annika Canaba, have been working together throughout her athletic career.  

During the 2021 volleyball team’s conference tournament, Tatyana Colon’s ace ended their match with a well-deserved win.  

Some kids may have experienced their parents coaching at some point in life, even if it’s for little league, but it is almost unheard of at the college level.  

Coach Canaba has been coaching his daughter in volleyball and softball since she was about five years old, at which time she started playing tee-ball. Annika has been playing softball for 17 years and volleyball for about 10 years, with her father on the sidelines every step of the way.  

Their partnership will soon come to an end, since it is Annika’s last year playing for Sul Ross.

This relationship is actually what brought Annika to Sul Ross in the first place. But Annika’s journey was not always a clear choice.  

When Annika was 17 years old, she received an offer from Lubbock Christian University to play softball, but she ultimately decided to stay in Alpine to continue playing both volleyball and softball. At Lubbock Christian, that would not have been possible. Because she stayed in Alpine, her dad remained her coach for both sports.  

Ever since, Annika has been attending Sul Ross and enjoying her time on the softball and volleyball teams.  

Since she has been coached by her dad all these years, she says that people initially assume that there is favoritism. However, Annika believes that there is actually more criticism from her dad, since he knows that she can handle it.  

“I don’t treat her any different than anyone else,” Coach Canaba said.  

Annika said that her graduation from Sul Ross will be bittersweet, since she grew up in Alpine and made many memories with her dad. After graduating, Annika hopes to follow in her father’s footsteps and coach at a college.  

“I think being around the teams my dad coached growing up and being around sports my whole life in general has led me to wanting to coach,” Annika said.  

Coach Canaba said he is sad to see her go but excited for her future.

Video from the 2021 Conference Tournament: https://www.facebook.com/packsports/videos/392625442542369