Completed Event: Volleyball versus University of Northern Iowa on December 4, 2025 , Loss , 2, to, 3
Final Score
Volleyball
2
vs University of Northern Iowa
3
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The University of Utah Athletics
Shoji Promoted to Associate Head Coach
2/13/2018 9:05 AM | Volleyball, Beach Volleyball
Shoji will be in her fourth season with the Utes in 2018
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah director of volleyball Beth Launiere announced today that assistant coach Malia Shoji has been named associate head coach for the Utes.
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"I am excited to name Malia Shoji Associate Head Coach," said Launiere. "Malia has had a great impact on our program the past three years and she is establishing herself as one of the top young coaches in our sport. I appreciate what she brings to the program, from her many years of experience at all different levels of our game. Her creative vision for the program is similar with mine and I look forward to continue working with her as we strive to keep Utah volleyball one of the top programs in both the Pac-12 and in the nation."
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Shoji just completed her third season as an assistant coach for the Utes' indoor team. Utah is coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths, which included the Utes' making its third Sweet 16 appearance in school history, this past fall.
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Shoji also had a hand in Utah earning the program's highest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) final ranking, as the Utes finished No. 11 in the last poll of the 2017 season. Utah earned an AVCA Top-25 ranking every week this season, which began with a No. 23 preseason ranking. Following a No. 22 ranking in the first weekly poll of the season, Utah would rank no lower than No. 18 in the poll. The Utes ranked as high as No. 12 in the poll back on Oct. 16 and Oct. 23.
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Utah (24-10) finished the season with 20-plus wins for a second straight season and for the fourth time in the past five years. The Utes went 13-7 in Pac-12 play and finished in sole possession of fourth place in the conference standings. The 13 conference wins marked the most victories and the fourth place finish was the program's highest finish since joining the league.
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Prior to the season even beginning, Shoji was an integral part in the team's success, as she played a key role in Utah registering its highest recruiting class ranking in more than 10 years, as the 2017 incoming class was ranked No. 11 overall by PrepVolleyball.com. Utah's No. 11 overall ranking was the first top-30 ranking since 2011 (No. 20) and it matched the highest ranking ever in school history. Utah's recruiting class of 2005 was also ranked No. 11 overall.Â
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Shoji made the move to Salt Lake City after serving as an assistant coach under Brad Saindon at Western Oregon University, a NCAA Division II and Great Northwest Athletic Conference member, since 2012. While working at WOU, Shoji assisted in the planning and execution of player development, was WOU's primary recruiting coordinator, assisted in off-season training and oversaw video/statistics analysis, as well. She coordinated team travel, initiated fundraising efforts for the volleyball program and was the Wolves' primary camp director. In Shoji's first season with the Wolves, the squad finished the campaign with a 21-6 overall record and finished in second-place in the GNAC with a mark of 14-4.
Prior to her stint with the Wolves' program, Shoji was an assistant coach with Willamette University in 2011. At Willamette, she helped establish the Capital City Elite Volleyball Club and served as the Director of Business Operations.
Shoji's coaching experience also includes serving as lead coach for the Gold Medal Squared Volleyball Camps (2012-14), head junior varsity coach at La Jolla Country Day School (2008-10), head coach for the La Jolla Volleyball Club (2008-09) and head coach at Saddleback Valley Volleyball Club (2007).
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"I am excited to name Malia Shoji Associate Head Coach," said Launiere. "Malia has had a great impact on our program the past three years and she is establishing herself as one of the top young coaches in our sport. I appreciate what she brings to the program, from her many years of experience at all different levels of our game. Her creative vision for the program is similar with mine and I look forward to continue working with her as we strive to keep Utah volleyball one of the top programs in both the Pac-12 and in the nation."
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Shoji just completed her third season as an assistant coach for the Utes' indoor team. Utah is coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths, which included the Utes' making its third Sweet 16 appearance in school history, this past fall.
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Shoji also had a hand in Utah earning the program's highest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) final ranking, as the Utes finished No. 11 in the last poll of the 2017 season. Utah earned an AVCA Top-25 ranking every week this season, which began with a No. 23 preseason ranking. Following a No. 22 ranking in the first weekly poll of the season, Utah would rank no lower than No. 18 in the poll. The Utes ranked as high as No. 12 in the poll back on Oct. 16 and Oct. 23.
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Utah (24-10) finished the season with 20-plus wins for a second straight season and for the fourth time in the past five years. The Utes went 13-7 in Pac-12 play and finished in sole possession of fourth place in the conference standings. The 13 conference wins marked the most victories and the fourth place finish was the program's highest finish since joining the league.
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Prior to the season even beginning, Shoji was an integral part in the team's success, as she played a key role in Utah registering its highest recruiting class ranking in more than 10 years, as the 2017 incoming class was ranked No. 11 overall by PrepVolleyball.com. Utah's No. 11 overall ranking was the first top-30 ranking since 2011 (No. 20) and it matched the highest ranking ever in school history. Utah's recruiting class of 2005 was also ranked No. 11 overall.Â
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Shoji made the move to Salt Lake City after serving as an assistant coach under Brad Saindon at Western Oregon University, a NCAA Division II and Great Northwest Athletic Conference member, since 2012. While working at WOU, Shoji assisted in the planning and execution of player development, was WOU's primary recruiting coordinator, assisted in off-season training and oversaw video/statistics analysis, as well. She coordinated team travel, initiated fundraising efforts for the volleyball program and was the Wolves' primary camp director. In Shoji's first season with the Wolves, the squad finished the campaign with a 21-6 overall record and finished in second-place in the GNAC with a mark of 14-4.
Prior to her stint with the Wolves' program, Shoji was an assistant coach with Willamette University in 2011. At Willamette, she helped establish the Capital City Elite Volleyball Club and served as the Director of Business Operations.
Shoji's coaching experience also includes serving as lead coach for the Gold Medal Squared Volleyball Camps (2012-14), head junior varsity coach at La Jolla Country Day School (2008-10), head coach for the La Jolla Volleyball Club (2008-09) and head coach at Saddleback Valley Volleyball Club (2007).
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