Casey Kushiyama was hired as Whitman’s lead assistant coach in 2012 following successful stints at George Fox University, Linfield College, and Whitworth University.
Kushiyama, a graduate of University High in Honolulu, Hawaii, was a three-sport star and honor roll student at the college prep school nestled in the Manoa valley of Oahu. Starring in basketball, baseball, and volleyball, he earned all-conference accolades in volleyball and basketball, including all-state recognition in basketball his senior year. That year, he topped the state in 3-point shooting and was the second-leading scorer in his league.
Kushiyama continued his playing career at Linfield College in Oregon, where in 2005 he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education. As the team’s starting point guard and team captain his senior year he led the team in assists and steals. His seven steals in a Northwest Conference (NWC) game against George Fox, still remains as the single-game Wildcat record for steals.
Whitman fans can cheer for him now, but in January of 2005 his running bank shot from the top of the key lifted Linfield to a double-overtime victory over Whitman in the Sherwood Center.
Kushiyama received his Master's in Teaching (secondary education–health) from Arizona's Grand Canyon University in 2010.
Kushiyama began his coaching career with his alma mater, under the tutelage of Linfield’s all-time winningest coach Larry Doty. There he worked closely with developing the Wildcat’s point guards and also serving as the Wildcat’s Head JV Coach.
He spent the 2008-09 season as a men's assistant coach at Whitworth, under current Eastern Washington head coach Jim Hayford. That team finished the season 23-6, winning the NWC tournament championship, before eventually losing in the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament. The sudden departure of the longtime women's coach at Linfield then prompted Kushiyama's return to his alma mater.
In his one season as the women's interim head coach at Linfield, Kushiyama doubled the program’s win total from the previous season with two Wildcats earning all-conference recognition.
Kushiyama spent the 2011-12 season at George Fox, helping the women's team piece together an undefeated 25-0 regular season, an NWC tournament championship, and an appearance in the NCAA D-III national championship game. Although losing in the national final to Illinois Wesleyan University, the team finished with a 32-1 record and a final No. 2 national ranking.
In his three seasons at Whitman the Missionaries have compiled an overall record of 71-18 featuring an Elite 8 appearance in the 2012-13 season, an undefeated regular season (25-0) in 2013-14, a No. 1 national ranking, and an appearance in the 2014 NCAA D-III national championship game.
Michelle Ferenz, now in her 15th season as head coach of the Whitman women's program, said of Kushiyama upon his hiring, "We are fortunate to have someone as talented and experienced as Casey to join our staff. He comes to us with a wealth of coaching and recruiting experience in our conference.
"We're thrilled to add Coach Kushiyama, who has already shown he is a talented young coach. I am certain he will be tremendous help to our team and our recruiting efforts."
Kushiyama is married to Lisa Brocard Kushiyama, a Gift Planning Coordinator and assistant volleyball coach at Whitman. Lisa was an all-conference volleyball player and track and field star (long jump and triple jump) at Linfield. During her volleyball career the Wildcats won back-to-back NWC titles. The couple live in Walla Walla with their two young sons, Kai and Keo, and their dog Nalu.
