TCU Promotes Tanaka to Associate Head Volleyball Coach
11/24/2004 12:00:00 AM
Nov. 24, 2004
Fort Worth, Texas - Jason Tanaka, assistant volleyball coach at TCU, has been promoted to associate head volleyball coach, Horned Frogs' head volleyball coach Prentice Lewis announced today.
"Jason has worked really hard the past three years," Coach Lewis said. "He has the same vision and same level of commitment that I have and I wanted to reward him for his hard work."
"I want to thank Prentice and Athletics Director Eric Hyman for giving me this opportunity in a new leadership role at TCU," Coach Tanaka commented. "I believe this is a great institution with high ethical, academic, and athletic standards. I'm excited for the years to come as a Horned Frog."
Since February 25, 2002, Tanaka has served as the recruiting coordinator for the Horned Frogs. He has helped TCU in its steady improvement over the past few years, including this year's best-ever 21-9 overall record and second-place finish in Conference USA. Four players have earned all-league recognition under his watch.
Tanaka joined the Horned Frog staff after spending the 2000 and 2001 seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Pittsburgh. While with the Panthers, Tanaka's responsibilities included coordinating the team's training and assisting with the recruiting efforts. He additionally was responsible for match preparation a well as coordinating all statistics.
Tanaka joined Pittsburgh after serving two seasons at Baylor (1998 and 1999). He helped lead the Bears to their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth and a school-record 26-9 overall mark in 1999. Baylor, which finished that season ranked 20th nationally, advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, before falling to eventual champion Penn State.
Prior to his stop at Baylor, Tanaka spent one season at his alma mater, Arizona, as a volunteer assistant. As an undergraduate at Arizona, Tanaka served as a manager for head coach David Rubio from 1994-1997.
Tanaka began his coaching career in 1991 when he was appointed head coach of the Huntington Beach freshman volleyball team in Huntington, Calif. He later went on to serve as an assistant for the school's varsity squad which won two CIF Division I titles.
Tanaka additionally has several years of experience working at camps throughout the country. He served as the director of the Brian Hosfeld Volleyball Camp in 1999 and worked primarily with the setters at the David Rubio Camp.
Tanaka was also the head coach for the Club Cactus Juniors and head coach for 16-year-olds for the Magnum Volleyball Club. In 1998, he served as the tournament director for the Cactus Classic, a tournament featuring over 80 teams.
A 1997 graduate of Arizona with a bachelor's degree in communications, Tanaka received his associate's degree in general education from Orange Coach Community College in 1994.
TANAKA'S COACHING CAREER
TCU Associate Head Coach 2004-present
TCU Assistant Coach 2002-04
Pittsburgh Assistant Coach 2000-02
Baylor Assistant Coach 1998-00
Arizona Volunteer Assistant 1997-98
Huntington Beach Assistant Varsity Coach 1993-94
Huntington Beach Freshman Head Coach 1991-92
Club Cactus Juniors Head Coach for 16's/18's 1995-98
Magnum Volleyball Club Head Coach for 16's 1994
