Highly-regarded volleyball coach Michal Kucza joined head coach Carlo Edra's New Jersey City University men's volleyball staff prior to the 2020 season and has served as the associate men's volleyball coach. A collegiate volleyball player himself at Kean University and NJCU, Kucza has also previsouly served as the associate head women's volleyball coach for the Gothic Knights, as well as the program's interim head coach.
Prior to coming to NJCU's sidelines, Kucza spent several years coaching at both the Division I and Division III levels, making stops at Rutgers-Newark University, Colgate University, The Ohio State University and Stevens Institute of Technology.
Most recently, Kucza was an assistant coach at Division III Steven Institute of Technology in Hoboken in 2017, where he helped the Ducks to a 27-8 record; going a perfect 8-0 in conference play, that included winning the 2017 Empire 8 Conference Championship and Coaching Staff of the Year. During his tenure at Stevens, Kucza guided Julie Greco, Casey King, and Shelby Stewart to Division III All American Honorable Mention and AVCA All-New York Region honors. King was named 2017 Co-Conference Player of the Team, Sydni Horner was named 2017 Defensive Player of the Year. Horner, King, Stewart were named First Team All Conference. Taleen Mitchell, Julie Greco were named Second Team All Conference, and Sara Hain was named Honorable Mention All Conference, under Kucza. Stevens would eventually fall in the NCAA National Tournament Regional Finals losing to Ithaca College in 4.
In 2016, Kucza was a volunteer assistant coach at Division I The Ohio State University, competing in one of the most competitive conferences in the NCAA. At The Ohio State University, Kucza was involved in all day to day operations, including on court training. Kucza also assisted in all summer camp logistics, as well as on-campus recruiting. From 2014-2016, Kucza was an assistant coach at Division I Colgate University, where he was mentored under Head Coach Ryan Baker. During his time at Colgate, Kucza acted as the Raiders' recruiting coordinator. Kucza was responsible for on court training, game preparation, match strategy, opponent scouting, video exchange and helped run all social media accounts for the Raiders.
Kucza helped guide Diane Seely to Second Team All-Patriot League (2014), Kenzie Hume Academic All-Patriot League (2014), Kathleen Harris to First Team All-Patriot League (2015), Katie Stebbins to Second Team All-Patriot League (2015). In 2015, Colgate lost in the Conference semifinals to American University in 3. Kucza, from 2016-2018 was served as a director of player development and recruiting coordinator at Dig It Garden State (D.I.G.S.) Volleyball Club in northern New Jersey. Kucza has also worked in numerous volleyball camps around the country from 2009-2018, most notably at The University of Ohio State and the University of Wisconsin. Previous coaching experience includes assistant coach at Rutgers-Newark University, four years as a head coach at Warren SixPak Club and a head coach of the junior varsity team at Roselle Catholic, where Kucza began his coaching career.
On the court, Kucza competed for both NJCU and Kean University from 2010-2013, where he subsequently suffered a career ending injury. At NJCU, Kucza was named All-Tournament at the York College Invitational.
A 2009 graduate of Bayonne High School, Kucza was a three-sport athlete for the Bees, playing three seasons of varsity volleyball for Coach Patricia Longo. He was honored as the 2009 H.C.I.A.A. Player of the Year and was a two-time First-Team All Hudson County selection his junior and senior year. He was named MVP of the 2009 H.C.I.A.A championship match against St. Peter's Prep, won by Bayonne, and led the Bees to the 2008 and 2009 HCIAA titles, defeating St. Peter's Prep each season. He lead Bayonne to the 2009 HJSIAA state semifinal and No. 1 seed in the North Bracket, before falling to St. Peter's Prep in the North final. His club team was Warren SixPak, playing three seasons for New Jersey volleyball legend, Coach Fred Siegel.
Kucza currently resides in Bayonne, N.J.
