In 2012, Shaun Kupferberg was named Howard University women's volleyball head coach. In 13 seasons, he has turned the Bison program into one of the conference's elite.
Kupferberg and the Bison went from winning one game and missing the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament in 2012 to winning the conference five consecutive years (2015-19). During that span, Kupferberg, three-time MEAC Coach of the Year ('14, '16, '18), has led Howard to five 20-win seasons, at least a share of the MEAC Northern Division title in five of the last seven years (2014-16, '18-19), over two dozen All-MEAC and MEAC All-Academic honors and six NCAA Tournament appearances, including five straight trips (2015-19). On Sept. 20, 2024, he secured his 400th career victory in the sweep over Princeton.
In 2024, Kupferberg led the Bison to a 23-6 record, including undefeated conference mark (14-0). Along the way, he was named MEAC Coach of the Year while guiding five Bison to conference postseason honors: Dami Awojobi (All-MEAC Second Team); Rya McKinnon (MEAC Player of the Year); Claire Simpson (All-MEAC Second Team); Leah Reeves (MEAC Setter of the Year) and Cimone Woodard (All-MEAC First Team). Additionally, he was named ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) Coach of the Year while coaching McKinnon to AVCA All-Region honors. Academically, HU made the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award.
In 2023, Kupferberg led the Bison to a 17-15 overall mark (11-3 MEAC) and a postseason berth to the NIV (National Invitational Volleyball) Tournament. Additionally, he saw Rya McKinnon win MEAC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season while earning AVCA All-Region honors. Middle blocker Cimone Woodard and made the All-MEAC First Team while setter Kayla Diaz and libero Claire Simpson were selected to the All-MEAC Second Team.
In 2022, Kupferberg led the Bison to a share of the MEAC Regular Season Title, going 20-10 overall (12-2 MEAC). In addition, he coached Rya McKinnon to MEAC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors. The freshman also was named AVCA All-American Honorable Mention. Setter Kayla Diaz claimed MEAC Co-Setter of the Year and middle blocker Tamar Wells earned All-MEAC Second Team.Â
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In fall 2021, the Bison claimed its sixth MEAC Championship in seven seasons. With the historic victory, HU is now tied with Florida A&M for the most volleyball titles in MEAC history (13 total).
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Prior to Kupferberg's appointment at HU, the Miami University graduate was the head women's volleyball coach at Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Fla., for five seasons (2006-11). During his tenure there, he led the squad to four consecutive winning seasons (2006-09). Kupferberg guided the Dolphins to the title match of the Atlantic Sun conference tournament on two occasions.
In 2008, Kupferberg's team notched a program-best 20-10 record. He followed with a 19-9 mark the following year. In the process, eight of his student-athletes were named to the all-conference teams.
Equally impressive was Kupferberg's academic leadership. Fifty-two of his student athletes were selected to the academic all-conference team and garnered a team grade point average of 3.5 or higher (on a 4.00 scale).
Prior to his coaching tenure with the Dolphins, Kupferberg spent five seasons at Northwest University in Kirkland, Wash., as the head women's volleyball coach. Over the course of that period, Kupferberg increased the school's winning percentage. He started his career at Northwest with a record of 12-14 and gradually showed progress, leading the team to a 28-4 mark during his last season there.
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| Shaun Kuperberg Head Coaching Record |
| Year |
Team |
Record |
Postseason |
| 2001 |
Northwest |
12-15 |
|
| 2002 |
Northwest |
14-14 |
|
| 2003 |
Northwest |
15-12 |
|
| 2004 |
Northwest |
22-8 |
CCC Champions |
| 2005 |
Northwest |
28-4 |
|
| 2006 |
Jacksonville |
17-15 |
ASUN Finals |
| 2007 |
Jacksonville |
19-13 |
ASUN Finals |
| 2008 |
Jacksonville |
20-10 |
ASUN Semifinals |
| 2009 |
Jacksonville |
19-9 |
ASUN Semifinals |
| 2010 |
Jacksonville |
14-16 |
|
| 2011 |
Jacksonville |
14-17 |
|
| 2012 |
Howard |
1-23 |
|
| 2013 |
Howard |
21-11 |
MEAC Semifinals |
| 2014 |
Howard |
20-11 |
MEAC Finals |
| 2015 |
Howard |
18-14 |
MEAC Champions (NCAA Appearance) |
| 2016 |
Howard |
26-6 |
MEAC Champions (NCAA Appearance) |
| 2017 |
Howard |
16-16 |
MEAC Champions (NCAA Appearance) |
| 2018 |
Howard |
20-10 |
MEAC Champions (NCAA Appearance) |
| 2019 |
Howard |
20-13 |
MEAC Champions (NCAA Appearance) |
| 2021 (Spring) |
Howard |
3-11 |
|
| 2021 (Fall) |
Howard |
18-13 |
MEAC Champions (NCAA Appearance) |
| 2022 |
Howard |
20-10 |
|
| 2023 |
Howard |
17-15 |
MEAC Finals (NIV Appearance) |
| 2024 |
Howard |
23-6 |
MEAC Finals |
| Career |
24 years |
417-279 |
6Â MEAC Championships (7 Postseason Appearances); 1 CCC Championship |
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