STANFORD, Calif. – Daniel Rasay, The Al Roderigues Assistant Men's Volleyball Coach, and Ken Shibuya, The Kawika and Erik Shoji Associate Head Men's Volleyball Coach, will not return to the Cardinal coaching staff.
Shibuya and Rasay have been fixtures on the Stanford sideline since 2007 and 2010, respectively. The pair helped guide the Cardinal to the 2010 national championship in front of a sold out crowd at Maples Pavilion and a national runner-up finish in 2014.
"I want to thank Ken and Daniel for their unwavering dedication to the growth of our young men," said John Kosty, The Birkhofer Family Men's Volleyball Head Coach. "I'm most thankful for their commitment and fortitude to our program during COVID and the cutting of our program. Their resolve helped guide us out of that turbulent time and to back-to-back MPSF Championship matches."
Shibuya handled much of the scouting, game-planning and recruiting for the Cardinal, while Rasay had a hand in almost every logistical aspect of the program as well as his background in sports psychology.
In addition to the 2010 national title, the pair helped lead Stanford to back-to-back appearances in the MPSF final in 2022 and 2023 for the first time in program history.
During Shibuya's tenure, the Cardinal earned 34 AVCA All-America honors and 59 All-MPSF selections. Additionally, he mentored AVCA National Player of the Year Kawika Shoji (2010), AVCA National Freshman of the Year Erik Shoji (2009), two MPSF Players of the Year in Brad Lawson (2010) and James Shaw (2016).
Shibuya's collegiate coaching journey began during his undergraduate days. He was instrumental in starting Virginia's first men's club team, before assisting the Cavaliers' women's varsity from 1990-94.
Shibuya established himself as a head coach in the small-college ranks, first with the women's team at Sweet Briar (Va.) College from 1994-95, where the team set a school mark for consecutive victories.
He then led the Christopher Newport women to their best success. The Newport News, Virginia, program had one 20-win season in 21 years until Shibuya led the Captains to three consecutive 20-win campaigns (1999-2001), capturing the 2001 Dixie Conference title with the school's first undefeated conference season, and reaching the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time in school history. Twice during his four seasons, he was named conference coach of the year.
Shibuya next took over the men's team at Juniata College (Huntingdon, Pa.) in 2002 and led the Eagles to three consecutive Molten Division III Invitational national titles (2004-2006). He coached two national players of the year and was named AVCA Division III Coach of the Year in 2004.
With Rasay on staff, Stanford earned 31 AVCA All-America awards and 52 All-MPSF honorees. He also helped coach AVCA National Player of the Year Kawika Shoji (2010), and MPSF Players of the Year Lawson (2010) and Shaw (2016).
Rasay served as head women's coach at Menlo College, taking over in the fall of 2010. He guided the Oaks to the California Pacific Conference regular-season and tournament titles in 2012 and a berth in the NAIA tournament.
Rasay, a native of Kailua-Kona on the Big Island, became a legend of sorts at the University of Hawai'i for his clutch play in the NCAA tournament. As a freshman, Rasay came off the bench and sparked Hawai'i to a 2002 NCAA semifinal victory. Rasay had 21 assists in two sets during the four-set victory against host Penn State. The Warriors would go on to win the NCAA title, and Rasay would go on to become the Warriors' captain in 2005 and a crowd favorite at UH's Stan Sheriff Center.
Rasay began his collegiate head-coaching career at Mills College, an NCAA Division III women's school in Oakland, from 2006-08, and completed three seasons at Menlo, finishing second in the California Pacific Conference in 2011 before going 17-7 in 2012.
"I wish them the best in their future endeavors and thank them for their decades of service to Stanford men's volleyball," added Kosty.
