Tony began coaching volleyball at an Orillia highschool in 1984. In 2006, he joined the Orillia Suns organization where he spent the next 10 years helping to grow the Suns from a 1-team club to 7 teams across multiple age divisions. Tony’s passion for the game and commitment to youth development was integral in the launch of the increasingly popular spring and summer clinics.

After retiring from teaching, Tony moved to St. Catharines in 2017 where he continued to coach and officiate in the Niagara region. His now 30+ year commitment to volleyball includes many team successes and medals, and many former players continue at the post-secondary level and beyond. Tony is routinely praised for his knowledge of the game, officiating acumen, tireless recruitment and inspirational coaching.

Tony passed away in July 2021 and is greatly missed.

He also leaves behind a huge void in the volleyball community. Di Bacco coached countless teams at ODCVI before joining the Orillia Suns program for high-level players who travel around the province to compete. He was also well known and widely respected as a volleyball referee. Kris Parnham served as an assistant coach with Di Bacco with various Orillia Suns teams. “Tony had a real passion for the game,” said Parnham, adding Di Bacco was intense, but respected the rules, worried about certain strategies and decisions and demanded fairness. He also ignited, in others, a passion for the sport. “Tony was simply the best developmental coach for young players because he infected them with his passion for the game,” said Parnham. That meant the kids he came into contact with were “all-in” on volleyball. “He made a huge impression,” said Parnham. “I can’t even imagine the number of people he touched through volleyball.” He was “into something” every season, explained Parnham, describing how his friend would pour his energy into a backyard rink in the winter or the apple orchard in the fall. “Tony always found something to pump life into it,” said Parnham, adding Di Bacco often handed out his home-made apple sauce to friends and those connected to his volleyball teams. And the family home where Tony and wife Sue were the heart, “was always bustling,” said Parnham. “There was always something going on ... and Tony was always in there mixing it up.” Di Bacco was “a prince of a guy,” said Parnham. “As a friend, he was a great listener and with a heart as big as his … there just aren’t enough people like that on the planet,” said Parnham. (Dawson, Dave. "Community mourns loss of Tony Di Bacco." Orillia Matters, July 22, 2021).