Reed Sunahara, the winningest coach in program history, has guided University of Cincinnati volleyball to unprecedented heights during his ten seasons as head coach.

Sunahara has piloted the Bearcats to NCAA Tournament appearances during five of his ten seasons, after helping the program to an NCAA berth as an assistant in 1999. UC has claimed a trio of Conference USA regular season championships, a share of the 2008 BIG EAST regular-season championship, and set school records for consecutive wins, consecutive home wins, and consecutive games won under Sunahara's tutelage. Since his arrival in Clifton, UC has won at least 20 matches in every season but one. Sunahara earned the distinction as the program's winningest coach in 2004 and has amassed 207 victories on the Bearcats' sideline.

Sunahara has also coached on the international circuit, taking USA squads through tours of Spain and Portugal (2001), the Czech Republic (2003 & 2004) and Argentina (2006).

Sunahara continued his success in 2008 leading the Bearcats to a share of the program's first BIG EAST regular-season championship. The 2008 squad reeled off 15 consecutive wins from October 3 through November 16, falling one win shy of tying the program record for consecutive wins. The Bearcats also took home court advantage to a different level, going a perfect 14-0 in Fifth Third Arena, setting a new school record for most home wins in a season. UC made the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in the Sunahara era and advanced to the second round of the tournament for the second time in school history.

After leading the Bearcats to a share of the 2008 BIG EAST title, Sunahara was named the 2008 BIG EAST Coach of the Year, while senior Jessie Nevitt became the first player in Bearcat history to earn four First-Team All-BIG EAST honors. Nevitt also was named an AVCA honorable-mention all-American for the third time in her career.

The 2006 campaign was another winning and successful one as UC finished 22-7 to mark its 12th consecutive 20-win season. Under Sunahara's watch, sophomore Jessie Nevitt became the second UC player ever to earn all-America status two years in a row.

In 2005, Sunahara's Bearcats continued their winning tradition, capturing 20 wins for the 11th consecutive year and advancing to the BIG EAST Tournament semifinals in the program's first year in the league. UC finished the campaign with a 20-12 record against one of its most competitive schedules ever. Sunahara also guided the development of Nevitt, who was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year and an honorable mention all-American.

The 2004 season saw UC advance to the conference tournament semifinals for the seventh time in 10 years. Sunahara also guided the Bearcats to their 10th straight 20-win season, finishing with a 22-11 mark. Julie DuPont was honored as the C-USA Player of the Year for the second straight campaign and was again tabbed an all-American by the AVCA.

During the 2003 season, Sunahara guided a team that lost two of the top players in school history-Trish Ladusaw and Bonita Wise-to a share of the C-USA regular-season championship and a fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The Bearcats finished with a 27-6 record, presenting him with his 100th coaching victory. DuPont blossomed under Sunahara's tutelage, becoming UC's first-ever volleyball all-American.

In 2002, Sunahara led the Bearcats to a 23-9 mark and an at-large NCAA Tournament berth.

Sunahara earned the C-USA Coach of the Year Award in 2001 after leading the Bearcats to their most successful season ever. The Bearcats finished the season 23-8, capturing the C-USA regular season championship and matching a school record with a 14-2 conference ledger.

A trip to the NCAA Tournament brought UC its first tournament win. Along the way the Bearcats set a school record by winning 16 straight matches.

In 2000, his first year as UC's head coach, Sunahara led a team returning three starters to a second consecutive C-USA American Division title with a 14-2 league record, earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Sunahara joined the Cincinnati family in 1997 as the top assistant to then-head coach Laura Alford.

As an assistant, Sunahara was involved in all coaching aspects, from recruiting and scheduling to practice planning and scouting. He was instrumental in developing Cincinnati's middle blockers, including former all-time kills leader Becky Tenkman, four-time all-conference selection Bonita Wise, and two-time all-conference choice Stephanie Meinig. The Bearcats were 70-32 in his three seasons as an assistant.

Sunahara previously spent four seasons at Toledo, serving as head coach for the final two years. In 1993, the Rockets reached the Mid-American Conference Tournament for the first time. As head coach for the Rockets, he posted a 19-40 record, including a 12-19 mark in 1996.

Prior to Toledo, Sunahara served as assistant men's coach (1990-93) at perennial power UCLA under Al Scates, the all-time winningest volleyball coach in NCAA history. He also served as the graduate assistant at UCLA in 1987 and 1989. The Bruins won three national championships during his coaching tenure.

As a player, Sunahara helped lead UCLA to three straight national championships, including two undefeated seasons (29-0 in 1982 and 38-0 in 1984). He led the Bruins with a .399 hitting percentage in 1984 and was considered the nation's best outside hitter.

A two-time all-American, Sunahara played with Olympians Karch Kiraly, Ricci Luyties (the current head coach at Southern Miss), Doug Partie, and Dave Saunders during his career. In 1988, he went to Spain to play professionally in the Canary Islands for Cisneros Isla Verdes. He played for champion NIKE/Molten at the United States Volleyball Association national championships in 1987 and 1990.

Sunahara has held his own camp, The Reed Sunahara Volleyball Camp, for 13 years.

The Reed Sunhara File

College: UCLA (BA in Sociology, 1989)

Year at Cincinnati: 10th as head coach, 13th overall

Coaching experience: UCLA (1987, 1989), men's graduate assistant coach: UCLA (1990-93), men's assistant coach; Toledo (1993-94), women's assistant coach; Toledo (1995-96), women's head coach (won 19, lost 40); Cincinnati (1997-99), women's assistant coach; Cincinnati (2000-present), women's head coach (won 207, lost 82).

Playing experience: UCLA (1982-86), two-time All-American, three NCAA titles; NIKE/Molten at the USVBA national championships (1987, 90); Cisneros Isla Verdes in the Canary Islands (1988).

Personal: Children Rex (13), R.J. (9) and Mia (4).

Sunahara's Year-by-Year Coaching Record