Faith Academy coaches Sawyer, Canada resign
CAPTION: Faith Academy volleyball head coach Erin Sawyer elevated the program to being one of the most consistent winners in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools. She spent many years building up the program. Staff photos by Jennifer Fierro
Two coaches submitted resignations to the Faith Academy of Marble Falls athletic department recently. Both were instrumental in helping the programs reach the state tournament.
They are volleyball head coach Erin Sawyer and boys basketball assistant coach Malcolm Canada. Sawyer resigned because of family reasons and Canada left because he and his family moved.
Athletic director Zakk Revelle said the decisions to leave the programs weren’t easy for either one.
Sawyer became the head coach in 2023 after being the top assistant coach for two years and leading the junior high program. She also started the Highland Lakes Aces girls volleyball club that includes players from different school districts across the region.
“As someone who knows and loves coach Sawyer, I did not want to see her go,” Revelle said. “She’s done such an incredible job for our volleyball program and the way that she’s built it up into what it is. We were a volleyball program that had scarcely made the playoffs and now all of a sudden, we’re a volleyball program that’s known for being in the Final Four and playing late into the year and contending for district championships.”
He pointed out the Lady Flames have taken on and beaten powerhouses across the state with many of the players who have only played for Sawyer.
“We’re contending and we’re in the top and everybody knows it,” the athletic director said. “And so it was a very sad day I know for me and for her. It wasn’t something that she took lightly. It was filled with a lot of prayer and a lot of thought, and we talked through it and it was really something that was just better for her family. There’s no ill will on either side of the fence.”
The Lady Flames have their top player returning in junior outside hitter Ella Claiborne, who finished last season with 415 kills, 84 aces and 292 digs. During the 3-1 playoff win against Covenant Christian, Claiborne had 25 kills, two aces, two blocks and 34 digs.
The program also is returning junior setter Olivia Kranzel, who had 416 assists, 29 kills, 56 aces and 287 digs in 2025, and senior outside hitter Kerrington Silvers, who had 274 kills and 142 digs.
Revelle said the department is still accepting applications.
“We’re still in the process of interviewing and working through that whole process,” he said. “But somebody’s getting the keys to a really, really nice car.”
Canada served as Revelle’s top assistant for several years.
“We always knew at some point that Malcolm Canada was probably going to take his talents elsewhere and not because he didn’t love us and want to be with us,” the athletic director said. “There’s no Faith Academy basketball without Malcolm Canada, for what it is today and I would say the same thing about Kathryn Canada (his wife). They were just such powerhouses in regards to just their basketball acumen.”
Revelle said he and Malcolm Canadas see eye to eye on many things on and off the court and remain great friends.
“We know that we’ll see him throughout the year, and if there’s any games that he can catch, he’s going to for sure come,” he said. “And I’ll even let him call a play if he wants to or call a defensive coverage or whatever. But happy for him and his family.”
CAPTION: Faith Academy boys basketball assistant coach Malcolm Canada (left) and head coach Zakk Revelle guided the program to several district championships, deep playoff runs and the state tournament of the Texas Association of Privafe and Parochial Schools.
