Reed Sunahara

Title

Women's Volleyball Head Coach
Email

reed28@hawaii.edu
Phone

808-932-7174

Reed Sunahara returned home to become the Vulcans Women's Volleyball program's eighth head coach in March 2025.

The Hilo native was a three-sport star in volleyball, basketball and baseball at Hilo High School before pursuing collegiate volleyball at UCLA where he became a two-time All-American and three-time NCAA National Champion.

Sunahara has amassed more than 400 career wins through 24 seasons as a head coach, most recently spending nine years at Division-I West Virginia University where he helped the Mountaineers to their first-ever NCAA postseason appearance (2021). He also previously spent 12 seasons at the University of Cincinnati, claiming six conference titles and three conference Coach of the Year honors (2001, 2008, 2010).

HAWAI‘I HILO WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL RECORD
(Tap to Expand)

SUNAHARA VULCANS WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL RECORD

SEASON	TEAM RECORD	NOTES
2025	0-1 Overall
1 Season	0-1 Overall	- Championships / - Major Awards

COACHING CAREER
» Career Win No. 400: Sept. 3, 2021 vs Michigan (West Virginia)
» 2011 BIG EAST Tournament Champions (Cincinnati)
» 2010 BIG EAST Coach of the Year (Cincinnati)
» 2011 BIG EAST Regular Season Champions (Cincinnati)
» 2008 BIG EAST Coach of the Year (Cincinnati)
» 2008 BIG EAST Regular Season Champions (Cincinnati)
» 2003 Conference USA Regular Season Champions (Cincinnati)
» 2001 Conference USA Coach of the Year (Cincinnati)
» 2001 Conference USA Regular Season Champions (Cincinnati)
» 2000 Conference USA Regular Season Champions (Cincinnati)
» 1993 NCAA National Champion (UCLA Men's Volleyball)
» 1989 NCAA National Champion (UCLA Men's Volleyball)
» 1987 NCAA National Champion (UCLA Men's Volleyball)

PLAYING CAREER
» Spent six seasons on the UCLA Men's Volleyball team (1982-1986)
» 1984 NCAA All-America Second Team
» 1984 NCAA National Champion
» 1983 NCAA All-America First Team
» 1983 NCAA National Champion
» 1982 NCAA National Champion
» Three-sport star at Hilo High School in volleyball, basketball and baseball

ALMA MATER
» Hilo High School 1981
» University of California, Los Angeles 1989

PERSONAL
» Hometown: Hilo, Hawai‘i
» Class of 2018 Big Island Sports Hall of Fame Inductee
» Has three children
» Oldest son Rex is a long snapper in the NFL
» Younger son RJ was named 2022-23 NABC Division II Player of the Year

CAREER (24 SEASONS HC: 431-320)
» 2025-Present: University of Hawai‘i at Hilo
» 2024-2024: Vegas Thrill (Assistant)
» 2015-2023: West Virginia (106-156)
» 2014-2014: Buffalo (17-15)
» 2013-2014: U.S. National Team (Assistant)
» 2012-2012: USA Volleyball
» 2000-2011: Cincinnati (289-109)
» 1997-1999: Cincinnati (Assistant)
» 1995-1996: Toledo (19-40)
» 1993-1994: Toledo (Assistant)
» 1990-1993: UCLA (Men's Assistant)
» 1987-1989: UCLA (Men's Graduate Assistant)

MEDIA
» Hilo native takes over as Vulcans volleyball coach in full-circle moment (March 12, 2025) - Hawaii News Now
» Sunahara named UH Hilo volleyball head coach (March 3, 2025) - KHON2 News