Jim Kunau

Biography

Jim Kunau is the Director of MCAA, following Tony Diaz who retired after successfully leading the program from 2016-2021. Jim is very familiar with MCAA having served as an adjunct and assistant professor since 2012. Jim has extensive teaching, coaching, and leadership experience at the high school level as well. At Orange Lutheran High School in Southern California, Jim served as Athletic Director, Director of Leadership Studies, and as Head Football Coach for 21 years. He led the transformation of Orange Lutheran from a small Division 12 school to a major Division 1 powerhouse, competing in the ultra-competitive Trinity League where his teams won several championships. He is one of two high school football coaches in California history to have won State Championships at more than one school as he led Rancho Christian to similar growth and success as he experienced at Orange Lutheran.

Jim has spoken on Organizational Leadership and Developing Character all over the country at conferences, clinics, churches, and universities. He feels a strong calling for serving coaches. It began with developing coaches on his own staffs, 11 of whom went on to become head coaches and/or athletic directors, and quickly expanded to helping coaches and athletic administrators from other institutions. Jim and his wife Betsy have one daughter, Caroline, and reside in Orange, CA.

Education

B.A. in Political Science from California Lutheran University

M.A. in International Management from the American Graduate School of International Managementt

MCAA Classes Taught

MCAA 510: Principles of Coaching & Leadership

MCAA 530: Ethics in Sports

MCAA 532: Faith-Based Coaching

MCAA 560: Leadership & Administration

MCAA 590: Coaching Academy

MCAA 595: Culminating Project

Major Honors and Awards

Orange County (CA) Coach of the Decade

Nike National Coach of the Year

California State Coach of the Year

Los Angeles Times Southern California Coach of the Year

Orange County Register Coach of the Year

Riverside County Coach of the Year

CIF Division I/VI Coach of the Year

CIF Champions of Character Award

18 League Championships in 27 years

Coach: Under Armor/ESPN All Star Game

Jim reflects on the MCAA Program

“I quickly discovered what an extraordinary program for equipping and empowering athletic leaders Tom White had created, and feel very privileged to build on the legacy Tom established and Tony continued. And to carry on that legacy within the framework of Concordia’s Great Commission and Christ-centered Mission makes this a blessing and responsibility that I deeply appreciate and fully embrace. Concordia University’s unwavering commitment to empower students for lives of learning, service, and leadership while standing on grace alone and faith alone as the core of who we are is exactly what we seek to reflect in the MCAA student experience.“