HONOLULU – Former Ball State men's volleyball head coach and Maui native Donan Cruz has joined the University of Hawai'i men's volleyball coaching staff, head coach Charlie Wade announced.
 
"We are thrilled to announce the addition of Donan Cruz to our coaching staff," Wade said. "Donan is an accomplished coach and well respected by both players and coaches. He had an impressive run at Ball State for four years. Most recently he was a member of this summer's bronze medal USA U21 team and has a great relationship with many of our players. In addition to being a proven collegiate coach, Donan is kama'āina, a Baldwin High grad and has family members who live on O'ahu and are big UH volleyball fans. Join us in welcoming Donan Cruz home and to the UH men's volleyball 'ohana."
 
Cruz coached Ball State for four seasons and compiled 81 wins. In his inaugural season of 2022, he led the Cardinals to a 23-4 mark and No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament, where they eventually lost to UH in the semifinals in five sets. Cruz was named AVCA National Coach of the Year that season and later guided the Cardinals to two more 20-win campaigns before resigning following the 2025 season.
 
Prior to BSU, Cruz, a 2001 Baldwin High School graduate, spent 10 seasons at Grand View University, where he led the team to two NAIA national championships in 2018 and '21 and eight conference titles. He was Grand View's first head coach when he was hired in 2011 and compiled a 212-55 record, including an undefeated 26-0 campaign in GVU's run to the 2021 national title. His teams also finished as national runner-up three times and made the semifinals seven times in 10 years. He was a four-time NAIA Coach of the Year.
 
In addition, Cruz has coached with the USA Volleyball program most recently helping the U21 men's team to a bronze medal at the FIVB World Championship last month, marking the first time a U.S. U21 team, male or female, medaled at the tournament. Among the players on that team were UH setter Tread Rosenthal, opposite Kainoa Wade, and middle blocker Trevell Jordan.