Charlie Wade: Hawaii Men’s Volleyball Coach on the Rise Hawaii men’s volleyball coach Charlie Wade continues to build on a legacy of success, earning his third Big West Coach of the Year award in four seasons. His leadership has positioned the Rainbow Warriors as a national powerhouse, with back-to-back NCAA championships in 2021 and 2022 and multiple conference titles in recent years. Wade’s journey with Hawaii volleyball spans decades. Before taking the helm of the men’s program in 2010, he spent 11 years on the women’s volleyball staff, including nine as an associate coach under legendary head coach Dave Shoji. During that time, he helped guide Hawaii to 11 conference championships, 11 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, six Regional Finals and four Final Fours. Since becoming head coach of the men’s team, Wade has compiled a 336–134 overall record (.715 winning percentage). Under his direction, Hawaii has made seven NCAA Tournament appearances in the past decade and secured Big West Tournament titles in 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2025. The team also claimed Big West regular season championships in 2021 and 2023. His accomplishments have been widely recognized. Wade received the AVCA Coach of the Year award in 2019 and has been named Big West Coach of the Year three times — in 2022 (co-honor), 2023, and 2025. Most recently, he earned the honor after leading the Rainbow Warriors to their fourth Big West Conference title. Beyond conference success, Wade has expressed concern about the future of men’s volleyball at the NCAA level. Following Grand Canyon University’s decision to transition its men’s volleyball program from varsity to club status, Wade warned that similar moves could follow as schools navigate financial pressures tied to the impending House v. NCAA settlement, which may allow institutions to directly compensate student-athletes. As of April 2025, Hawaii was preparing for its NCAA Tournament opener as a second-seeded team, with players such as Finn Kearney, Tread Rosenthal, Justin Todd, and Kainoa Wade selected for the USA Volleyball U21 national team for summer competitions. Through sustained excellence and a commitment to player development, Charlie Wade has solidified his status as one of the most accomplished coaches in Hawaii athletics history.
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