Upcoming Event: Volleyball versus Weber State (Exhibition) on August 15, 2026 at 3:00 P.M.
3:00 P.M.
Volleyball
vs Weber State (Exhibition)
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The University of Utah Athletics
Get to Know Malia Shoji
4/8/2020 2:48 PM | Volleyball
Associate head coach Malia Shoji is entering her sixth season with the program and it will be her third as the associate head coach.
Since being with the program, she has helped the team reach two Sweet 16's in three seasons, reach its highest ranking ever at No. 9 after last season and both of the program's highest finish in the Pac-12.
Shoji comes from a family with extensive volleyball background and recently her and her husband, Benjamin, welcomed a new member to the family as they had a baby girl named Camryn Rose Kaufman.
Below is a Q&A with Shoji talking about her volleyball background as well as what made her so interested in coming to Utah.
How did you get into volleyball?
MS: It's always been almost like a family business for us and just something that has always brought our family together. As I've worked in volleyball, it almost feels that it's become even more of an extended family.
(Malia's dad, Tom, has been a volleyball coach at the NCAA level for more than 30 years. Her uncle, Dave, was the head coach at Hawai'i 40 years and during that time he accumulated 1,150 victories, which currently ranks second all-time in career wins. Shoji's cousins, Kawika and Erik, play professionally for the Berlin Recycling Volleys and both players are members of the USA Men's National Team, as well.)
How nice is it to have so many people you can lean on as a coach?
MS: There is no shortage to people I can turn to in my family for advice, whether it's watching film with my cousin and seeing what they're seeing or talking to my Uncle Dave about how to be successful in building a team culture. My dad will help me with scouting and tell me the things he's seeing when watching other Pac-12 matches. It's a fun past time for us. We're usually talking about volleyball in our family.
Did you always think you wanted to be a coach?
MS: I didn't. I was pretty adamant that I wasn't going to go in coaching, and when I started working in a 9-5 job, I quickly realized that I was spending all of my time coaching club on the side. It turns out that's when I was happiest. I got the chance to help my dad out after his assistant left midseason. I just went up to help him and that's when my coaching career started.
What's the most rewarding part for you being a coach?
MS: I think the relationships you build are most rewarding. None of the accomplishments we get on and off the court can happen without building those strong relationships. It's nice seeing those relationships last not just for four years, but even when they graduate and move on to life after volleyball.
When you interviewed with Utah, what stood out about the program?
MS: The main thing was I wanted to work for a successful female head coach. Beth being one of the best in the industry, I was really excited for the opportunity to learn from her. Her philosophy resonated with me to win at the highest level, learn life-long lessons along the way in the pursuit of being our best and then having a team and program that loves and respects each other. It's definitely the three things that I wanted in an environment for my next development as a coach.
Then, the family atmosphere at Utah was a big appeal to me, because I was coming from a smaller school. I didn't think I would be able to find that at a power five school, but Utah really seemed to have that family atmosphere while really trying to pursue big time athletic goals.
What do you love about volleyball the most?
MS: I love the strategy and the competitiveness, especially in the Pac-12. It just takes such high level strategy and there is no little thing that is unimportant to trying to help you win at this level.
Why you've stayed here
MS: I really wasn't sure how long I'd be here when I got here just knowing the naturally changes that happen in coaching. I've been really fortunate to move up to different positions at Utah and it's been an exciting time to be part of the Utah volleyball program. Just with the fact that it was newly into the Pac-12 when I first got here and seeing the progress in the Pac-12 that we've been able to make. There's just no shortage of possibilities of what could continue to happen at Utah. I've definitely been fortunate to stay here this long and be a part of that.
Since being with the program, she has helped the team reach two Sweet 16's in three seasons, reach its highest ranking ever at No. 9 after last season and both of the program's highest finish in the Pac-12.
Shoji comes from a family with extensive volleyball background and recently her and her husband, Benjamin, welcomed a new member to the family as they had a baby girl named Camryn Rose Kaufman.
Below is a Q&A with Shoji talking about her volleyball background as well as what made her so interested in coming to Utah.
How did you get into volleyball?
MS: It's always been almost like a family business for us and just something that has always brought our family together. As I've worked in volleyball, it almost feels that it's become even more of an extended family.
(Malia's dad, Tom, has been a volleyball coach at the NCAA level for more than 30 years. Her uncle, Dave, was the head coach at Hawai'i 40 years and during that time he accumulated 1,150 victories, which currently ranks second all-time in career wins. Shoji's cousins, Kawika and Erik, play professionally for the Berlin Recycling Volleys and both players are members of the USA Men's National Team, as well.)
How nice is it to have so many people you can lean on as a coach?
MS: There is no shortage to people I can turn to in my family for advice, whether it's watching film with my cousin and seeing what they're seeing or talking to my Uncle Dave about how to be successful in building a team culture. My dad will help me with scouting and tell me the things he's seeing when watching other Pac-12 matches. It's a fun past time for us. We're usually talking about volleyball in our family.
Did you always think you wanted to be a coach?
MS: I didn't. I was pretty adamant that I wasn't going to go in coaching, and when I started working in a 9-5 job, I quickly realized that I was spending all of my time coaching club on the side. It turns out that's when I was happiest. I got the chance to help my dad out after his assistant left midseason. I just went up to help him and that's when my coaching career started.
What's the most rewarding part for you being a coach?
MS: I think the relationships you build are most rewarding. None of the accomplishments we get on and off the court can happen without building those strong relationships. It's nice seeing those relationships last not just for four years, but even when they graduate and move on to life after volleyball.
When you interviewed with Utah, what stood out about the program?
MS: The main thing was I wanted to work for a successful female head coach. Beth being one of the best in the industry, I was really excited for the opportunity to learn from her. Her philosophy resonated with me to win at the highest level, learn life-long lessons along the way in the pursuit of being our best and then having a team and program that loves and respects each other. It's definitely the three things that I wanted in an environment for my next development as a coach.
Then, the family atmosphere at Utah was a big appeal to me, because I was coming from a smaller school. I didn't think I would be able to find that at a power five school, but Utah really seemed to have that family atmosphere while really trying to pursue big time athletic goals.
What do you love about volleyball the most?
MS: I love the strategy and the competitiveness, especially in the Pac-12. It just takes such high level strategy and there is no little thing that is unimportant to trying to help you win at this level.
Why you've stayed here
MS: I really wasn't sure how long I'd be here when I got here just knowing the naturally changes that happen in coaching. I've been really fortunate to move up to different positions at Utah and it's been an exciting time to be part of the Utah volleyball program. Just with the fact that it was newly into the Pac-12 when I first got here and seeing the progress in the Pac-12 that we've been able to make. There's just no shortage of possibilities of what could continue to happen at Utah. I've definitely been fortunate to stay here this long and be a part of that.
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