University of Hawai'i at Manoa Athletics

After serving three years as the Hawai‘i men's tennis assistant coach, Joël Kusnierz was named the head coach in the Fall of 2019 after former head coach John Nelson retired after a 16-years leading the Rainbow Warriors. Kusnierz and the ‘Bows were off to its best start since 2006, posting a 9-6 record before the season was cut short due to COVID-19 in 2020. In his second season in 2021, Kusnierz oversaw the Warriors to a 5-4 regular season in an all-Big West Conference schedule. Kusnierz helped the ‘Bows reach the Big West Tournament semifinals for only the second time since 2014.

In 2022, the Rainbow Warriors had a break out season:

• Hawai'i finishes 2022 with 12 wins--which is the most for the UH men's team since recording 12 wins in 2010.
• It marked its third-straight winning season, which is the longest streak since UH had 12-straight winning seasons between 1981-92.
• Hawai'i  earned an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) ranking as a team for the first time since 2012. The Rainbow Warriors debuted at No. 75 on March 23 and remained ranked until April 26 and rose as high as No. 64 on March 30.
• UH reeled off an eight-match win streak--the longest streak since UH won 14-consecutive matches in 2000 under former head coach Jim Schwitters.
• Hawai'i advanced to the Big West semifinals for just the third time and second-straight season since joining the conference in 2013.

Overall			Conf.
Year	Win	Loss	Win	Loss	Place
2020*	9	6	*COVID-19
2021	5	4	3	3	BWC-4th
2022	12	6	4	2	BWC-4th
2023	11	9	3	3	BW-r=4th
TOTAL	37	27	10	8

CAREER RECORD

• Overall/Hawai‘i: 14-10

 
COACHING EXPERIENCE

• Hawai‘i, Head Coach (2020-present)
• Hawai‘i, Assistant Coach (2017-19)
• California Tennis Club (San Francisco, Calif.) – 2013-17
• USTA-Northern California, Junior Coordinator (2012-13)
• St. Mary’s College (CA), Assistant coach (2011-12)

 
PRIOR TO UH

• Served as a developmental coach at the prestigious California Tennis Clug (San Francisco, Calif.) from 2013-17. He coached players from age eight to eighteen, preparing them to play at the collegiate level.
• From 2012-2013, worked as an intern for the USTA in Northern California and worked with promising juniors, including Cici Bellis who was ranked No. 1 in the world in the under 14 division.
• As an assistant coach at St. Mary's, was in charge of player development, team training and game-day preparation

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

• A 2018 USTA 5.5 Men's National Champion (California Tennis Club)
• A 2016 USTA Open Men's National Champion (California Tennis Club)

 
PLAYING EXPERIENCE

• St. Mary’s College (Moraga, Calif.) – 2007-08
• Aubun University at Montgomery (Montgomery, Ala.) - (NAIA) – 2005-06

 
PLAYING HIGHLIGHTS

• St. Mary’s (Moraga, Calif.)
  • Played at the No. 1 position for SMC from 2007-08, Kusnierz earned All-West Coast Conference honors following both his junior and senior seasons
  • Ended his career as the No. 62 player in the country, a first in Gael tennis history
  • In the 2008 season, served as the team captain while posting an impressive 17-5 singles record and led the team to a program-best ranking of No. 47 in the nation.
  • Kusnierz's best collegiate win of his career came against No. 13 Pepperdine in a regular season match, as he topped the No. 6 player in the country, Andre Begemann, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 10-8.
• Auburn University at Montgomery (Montgomery, Ala.)
  • Helped Auburn Montgomery win the NAIA National Championship in 2006
  • In his two years, the Warhawks recorded a 45-6 overall record while winning back-to-back SSAC titles in 2005 & ’06.
  • Earned All-NAIA, First Team honors in 2006 and was named an ITA/NAIA All-American 2005 and ’06

 
 
EDUCATION

• St. Mary’s (CA), B.S., Accounting (2008)
• St. Mary’s (CA), Master’s, Business and Sports Management (2012)