University of Hawai'i at Manoa Athletics

Donan Cruz enters his first season as an assistant coach with the University of Hawai?i men’s volleyball program, bringing with him an accomplished coaching resume and a proven history of building championship-level programs. He joins the Rainbow Warriors after four highly successful seasons as head coach at Ball State University, where he compiled an impressive 292–91 career head coaching record.
 
COACHING EXPERIENCE

• Hawai‘i, Assistant Coach (2026-)
• Ball State, Head Coach (2022-25)
• Grand View, Men’s Head Coach (2012-21)
• Grand View, Women’s Assistant Coach (2009-16)
• Graceland, Women’s Recruiting Coordinator (2006)
• Graceland, Women’s Student Intern (2004-05)

USA VOLLEYBALL

• Active member of the USA Volleyball coaching community since 2011
• Most recently, he served as an assistant coach with the USA U21 National Team, helping lead the team to a bronze medal at the 2025 World Championships in Jiangmen, China, and a gold medal at the Pan American Cup in Calgary, Canada
• In 2024, Cruz also helped guide the U21 team to a gold medal at the NORCECA Championships in Nogales, Mexico
• Served in multiple roles within USA Volleyball’s National Team Development Program and High Performance programs

COACHING HIGHLIGHTS

• Engineered one of the most successful campaigns in Ball State program history, guiding the Cardinals to the 2022 NCAA Final Four
• That season, the Cardinals finished 23–4 overall, captured both the MIVA regular-season and tournament championships, and led the nation in assists per set, kills per set, and winning percentage
• For his efforts in 2022, he earned AVCA Men’s Division I/II National Coach of the Year honors, along with MIVA Coach of the Year recognition after leading Ball State to its first outright MIVA regular-season title since 1997
• Continued the program’s success by guiding the Cardinals to three consecutive MIVA regular-season championships (2022–24) and earned conference coach of the year honors again in 2023
• Prior to Ball State, he built a national powerhouse at Grand View University, where he served as head coach and became one of the most accomplished coaches in NAIA men’s volleyball history
• Since leading the inaugural Grand View men’s program in 2012, he compiled a 211–55 record and remains the winningest coach in NAIA men’s volleyball history, posting a remarkable .793 winning percentage
• His tenure at Grand View was highlighted by two NAIA National Championships (2018, 2021), including a perfect 26–0 season in 2021 that concluded with a straight-set victory over Benedictine University in the national title match
• Led the Vikings to three national runner-up finishes (2016, 2017, 2019) and two national semifinal appearances (2014, 2015)
• His teams also captured eight consecutive conference championships across the NAIA Midwest Conference and the Heart of America Conference
• Earned four AVCA NAIA Men’s National Coach of the Year awards, was named Heart of America Conference Coach of the Year three times, and received NAIA Midwest Conference Coach of the Year honors twice
• Also coached seven multiple-time First Team All-Americans and guided two NAIA Players of the Year, Felix Chapman (Cuba) and Pedro Cardoso (Brazil)

 
PLAYING EXPERIENCE

• Graceland (2004-06)

EDUCATION

• Graceland, Marketing Communications (2006)

FAMILY

• Wife – Anna; Sons – Nixon, Nevon, and Micah