Former University of Hawaii setter Mason Kuo joins the Warrior coaching staff for his first season as a full-time assistant coach. Kuo was a volunteer coach the previous two seasons.
Kuo, an Ewa Beach native, keeps climbing the coaching ladder hoping to continue to give back to the UH community.
"UH did so much for me," Kuo said. "It is an honor to be here and be a part of the program that gave so much to me."
Kuo will assist with practices and game preparation. He lettered for the Warriors from 1995-99. He led the team in assists his junior and senior seasons. He currently ranks sixth all-time on the school's career leader list for assists with 2,619. He was part of the Warrior 1996 squad that was the NCAA national runner-up.
The 1994 graduate of McKinley High School lettered four years in volleyball. He was a two-time all-league selection and was also named OIA East Player-of-the-Year. He garnered honorable mention all-state honors and graduated Magna Cum Laude.
He decided to get into coaching to get a different look at the game.
"I enjoy the sport and this is a different aspect of volleyball," Kuo said. "It is challenging but very fulfilling and allows me to interact with people."
Kuo got started in the coaching ranks at his former ala mater McKinley. He coached the girl's junior varsity team and was a volunteer coach for the boy's varsity team. He then took over the reins at Mid-Pacific Institute and led the Owls for two seasons. In both seasons under Kuo, the Owls qualified for the Division II state championships.
For the past six years, Kuo has been an instructor for the Warrior volleyball camps.
Kuo realizes that college offers a different approach to the game.
"There are so many players on this team but only six or seven make it out there on the court," Kuo said. "They work really hard but the best players have to be out there on the court."
