Dave Shoji (born December 4, 1946) is an American sports coach who was the head coach of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Rainbow Wahine volleyball team from 1975 to 2017. Under his leadership, the Rainbow Wahine won four national titles (1979, 1982, 1983, 1987).

As of September 6, 2013 his record was 1,107–185–1, which translates to a winning percentage of 85.7%. On September 6, 2013 he became the winningest coach in Division I women's volleyball history with 1,107 wins, breaking the record formerly held by former UCLA head coach Andy Banachowski. Shoji earned the win in 4 games over Santa Clara University. His teams are known for having great ball control.[citation needed]

Shoji coached many standout players, including Deitre Collins, Teee Williams, Angelica Ljungqvist, Robyn Ah Mow-Santos, Kim Willoughby, Kanani Danielson and Nikki Taylor. Ah-Mow Santos succeeded Shoji as head coach of the Rainbow Wahine after his retirement on February 20, 2017.

Shoji played collegiate volleyball at the University of California, Santa Barbara, serving as the team's setter and earning All-American honors in 1968 and 1969. Shoji is also a graduate of the University of Hawaii ROTC program.

Shoji's elder son, Kawika Shoji, was a 3-year starting setter for the Stanford Cardinal men's volleyball team. During his senior year in 2010 Kawika led Stanford to the 2010 NCAA national championship and was selected as the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) player-of-the-year. Shoji's younger son, Erik Shoji, played as a libero for Stanford's volleyball team. Erik was the first player in AVCA history to earn first-team AVCA honors four years in a row.

Early life

Shoji was born on December 4, 1946. His father, Kobe Shoji, was a veteran of the 442nd Infantry Regiment who won two Purple Hearts. When he was four, his family moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, where his father became a well-known expert in sugar cane production.

Head coaching record

Women's

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Hawaii Rainbow Wahine (1975–1984)
1975Hawaii16–2AIAW runner-up
1976Hawaii14–5AIAW 3rd Place
1977Hawaii22–5AIAW runner-up
1978Hawaii28–10–1AIAW 3rd Place
1979Hawaii36–5AIAW Champion
1980Hawaii34–10AIAW 3rd Place
1981Hawaii37–2NCAA Regional final
1982Hawaii33–1NCAA Champion
1983Hawaii34–2NCAA Champion
1984Hawaii33–11NCAA first round
Hawaii Rainbow Wahine (Pacific Coast Athletic Association / Big West Conference) (1985–1995)
1985Hawaii28–1310–63rdNCAA regional semifinal
1986Hawaii31–715–32ndNCAA Regional final
1987Hawaii37–217–11stNCAA Champion
1988Hawaii33–318–01stNCAA runner-up
1989Hawaii29–317–11stNCAA Regional final
1990Hawaii28–616–21stNCAA regional semifinal
1991Hawaii26–515–32ndNCAA Regional final
1992Hawaii15–1211–74th
1993Hawaii19–1113–53rdNCAA Regional final
1994Hawaii25–515–32ndNCAA regional semifinal
1995Hawaii31–118–01stNCAA Regional final
Hawaii Rainbow Wahine (Western Athletic Conference) (1996–2011)
1996Hawaii35–316–01stNCAA runner-up
1997Hawaii25–814–01stNCAA first round
1998Hawaii32–313–11stNCAA Regional final
1999Hawaii29–214–01stNCAA regional semifinal
2000Hawaii31–216–01stNCAA Final Four
2001Hawaii29–613–01stNCAA regional semifinal
2002Hawaii34–213–01stNCAA Final Four
2003Hawaii36–213–01stNCAA Final Four
2004Hawaii30–113–01stNCAA regional semifinal
2005Hawaii27–716–01stNCAA regional semifinal
2006Hawaii29–615–11stNCAA Regional final
2007Hawaii27–615–11stNCAA second round
2008Hawaii31–415–11stNCAA Regional final
2009Hawaii32–316–01stNCAA Final Four
2010Hawaii29–316–01stNCAA second round
2011Hawaii31–216–01stNCAA regional semifinal
Hawaii Rainbow Wahine (Big West Conference) (2012–2016)
2012Hawaii27–318–01stNCAA second round
2013Hawaii25–513–31stNCAA second round
2014Hawaii22–713–32ndNCAA second round
2015Hawaii29–216–01stNCAA Regional final
2016Hawaii23–615–11stNCAA second round
Hawaii:1107–185–1 (.857)474–42 (.919)
Total:1107–185–1 (.857)
National champion Postseason invitational champion Conference regular season champion Conference regular season and conference tournament champion Division regular season champion Division regular season and conference tournament champion Conference tournament champion

Men's

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (1979–1980)
1979Hawaii5–2
1980Hawaii13–210–0
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (California Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) (1981–1985)
1981Hawaii12–98–85th
1982Hawaii14–89–7T–4th
1983Hawaii12–710–6T–4th
1984Hawaii11–99–9T–6th
1985Hawaii14–119–96th
Hawaii:81–48 (.628)55–39 (.585)
Total:81–48 (.628)
National champion Postseason invitational champion Conference regular season champion Conference regular season and conference tournament champion Division regular season champion Division regular season and conference tournament champion Conference tournament champion

Notes

See also

In film

Dave Shoji's role in the first few years of women's athletics at the University of Hawaii is chronicled in the documentary film , directed by Dean Kaneshiro. Dave was hired by UH's first female Athletic Director Dr. Donnis Thompson shortly after the passing of Title IX.

NCAA representation

On November 1, 2005, NCAA named an NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball 25th Anniversary Team. The team featured Middle Blocker Deitre Collins and Coach Dave Shoji as head coach, of seven total honorees. Tonya "Teee" Williams had also been further named to the 1980s NCAA all-Decade team for accolades.

Personal life

Shoji and his wife, the former Mary Tennefos, reside in Manoa. They have three children, Cobey, Kawika and Erik. Cobey is marrie to Coleman Hutzler.

Shoji's brother, Tom, was a collegiate women's volleyball coach for 35 years with stops at New Mexico State, Indiana, CSU Pueblo and Williamette. Shoji's niece, Malia, is currently the head women's volleyball at UNLV.

External links