Mike Wilton

Head coach of the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors volleyball team, University of Hawaii at Manoa

What is Mike Wilton known for?

Mike Wilton, a distinguished alumnus from San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, California, has made a significant impact in the world of volleyball as an accomplished coach. Born in 1943 or 1944, he spent his post-high school years serving in the United States Marine Corps, surfing, and working in the construction industry before embarking on his impressive coaching career.

After playing basketball at Santa Barbara City College and volleyball with Church College of Hawaii (now known as Brigham Young University Hawaii), he stepped into the world of coaching in the early '70s. He started his career as an assistant at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah, in 1970. Soon he was appointed as the men's volleyball coach at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo in 1973.

Over the years, Wilton has coached several teams demonstrating a commitment to both men's and women's volleyball. His journey includes being an assistant at UC Santa Barbara men's volleyball in 1974, BYU's men's volleyball coach in 1976, and Cal Poly's women's volleyball head coach from 1978 to 1989. From 1993 to 2009, Mike Wilton was the esteemed head coach of the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors volley team, where he achieved momentous success.

His coaching prowess led him to winning four Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Pacific Division titles in 1995, 1996, 1998, and 2001. Wilton's exceptional talent and dedication to the sport earned him the prestigious AVCA Coach of the Year award in 2002.

In April 2009, Wilton announced his resignation from his position at Hawaii. Since then, he has served as a women's assistant coach at BYU, continuing his legacy in the sport of volleyball. He currently serves as a volunteer assistant coach for Utah State.

From his service in the Marine Corps to his successful volleyball coaching career, Wilton's journey is truly remarkable. His dedication to the sport and his tenacity as a coach has left a significant impact on the world of volleyball.

For more information, visit Mike Wilton's Hawaii athletics profile.