HILO, Hawai`i—Longtime UH Hilo volleyball assistant and Big Island Sports Hall of Fame inductee Chris Leonard will be the Vulcan interim head coach at the University of Hawai`i Hilo in 2019, announced today by Vulcan athletics director Patrick Guillen.
 
Leonard becomes the seventh volleyball coach in the history of the storied Vulcan program. The Oahu native, who will serve in the position on an interim basis in 2019, replaces Gene Krieger who left UHH this past spring.

"I am pleased to announce the hiring of Chris Leonard as our next women's volleyball head coach," said Guillen.  "Chris is a great fit because of his established connection with our players and the program. We are very fortunate to have someone so passionate and committed to UH Hilo, local volleyball and to our community overall. He is widely respected and I have no doubt that he will do a very good job for us this season."
 
In December, after the completion of the 2019 season, Guillen will again begin a nationwide search for the full-time position. After Krieger's departure, a search began this past April to find his replacement. "Ultimately, that late timeline made it difficult to fill the position," Guillen said. "By this time of year, it is very challenging for coaches to consider a career move like this because of the commitments that they already have to their own programs."
 
Leonard has served as the lead Vulcan assistant coach for the past five seasons. He also has over 20 years of experience at the high school and club level. He is the longtime Club Director and Head Coach of the Pilipa`a girls volleyball team, and is a board member and High Performance Director for the Moku O Keawe Region of USA Volleyball. His resume includes listings as the head coach at Waiakea High School (girls) for one year, and two years as their assistant. He also spent 14 years as an assistant with the boys program at Waiakea and three years as an assistant girls coach at Kamehameha School
 
Next week, he will serve as the head coach of the USA Volleyball Continental Select Program at the High Performance Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
 
"I am excited to work with a really strong returning group of players, along with a great recruiting class," Leonard said. "I am looking forward to building the foundation for what is already a very strong volleyball program. I firmly believe that we have the talent it takes to be in the hunt again for a conference championship and regional playoff berth."
 
Leonard is also the President and General Manager of New West Broadcasting Corp., a Hawai`i-based organization that owns and operates five radio stations, including KWXX (94.7 FM) in Hilo and AM 670 KPUA, the official station for UH Hilo basketball.
 
Chris is married to wife Kathy, and they have two daughters—Zoe, who just finished her collegiate volleyball playing career at Dartmouth and will play in England this coming year, and Alysyn, who lives in North Carolina.
 
Leonard inherits a Vulcan squad that finished 21-7 in 2018, including 17-5 in the Pacific West Conference (third place). Ten players with collegiate experience return for him to work with, along with four new recruits.
 
"There is no doubt in my mind that Chris will be an excellent role model and mentor to our student-athletes," Guillen added.  "Guiding his players to the most complete student-athlete experience is a high priority for Chris. This is an exciting time for our Vulcans.
 
"I am grateful to Gene Krieger for the time and effort that he put into our program.  He put the Vulcans back on the map in a short amount of time with Chris' help, and the program is better off now and heading in the right direction.  The 2019 Vulcan team is very talented with a deep roster that will compete for a Pac West Conference Championship.  That could not be said two years ago.  The future is very bright."