Kristen Tupac (Hahn) was hired as an assistant coach on Feb. 8, 2022. She enters her fourth season with the Fighting Hawks in 2025. Tupac spearheads recruiting efforts and coaches liberos.
In her third season with UND, the Fighting Hawks won nine matches, as Tupac helped coach libero/defensive specialist Izzie McCormick to 383 digs on the season, good for fifth in the Summit League.
In year two in Grand Forks, Tupac aided the Fighting Hawks to seven wins including a five-set victory over North Dakota State in the season finale; the program's first home win over the Bison since 2018.
During her first season with UND, Tupac's guidance resulted in Kortney Carney claiming defensive performer of the week honors twice during the fall 2022 season. Tupac helped UND post an 11-win improvement from the previous season, while also helping guide the team back to the Summit League Tournament for the first time since 2018.
Prior to joining the staff at North Dakota, Tupac was served in recruiting and administrative roles for Athletes Unlimited for their volleyball and softball professional leagues. With Athletes Unlimited, she sat on the Player Executive Committee that worked to secure athletes for the league, coordinated logistics for the season and planned and ran practices for the teams in the league. Tupac has also owned and operated her own recruiting company, Imperium Recruiting.
Before her time at Athletes Unlimited, she spent a season with the University of Denver. Tupac assisted in leading the program to its best defensive season to date. She helped as they secured the regular season and Summit League Tournament champion titles.
Prior to Denver, Tupac coached youth club teams and high school volleyball in Iowa, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Switzerland.
Tupac also brings to Grand Forks an extensive playing history. Her latest stint was at Athletes Unlimited. While in Dallas, she ranked the highest on the leader board for liberos and 10th overall with 2,825 points. She made history as the first ever Iowa State Cyclone to become a full-time member of the USA Women's National Team. She made her first appearance for Team USA in the 2014 NORCECA World Championship Qualifier,. She helped lead the squad to a Gold Medal while garnering Best Libero and Best Receiver awards. Tupac also played four seasons of professional volleyball in Switzerland, Germany and in the inaugural season of the Athletes Unlimited Pro League here in the USA.
While at Iowa State, Tupac was a three-time All-American libero. She is one of the most decorated collegiate liberos of all-time; earning three Big 12 Libero of the Year awards, 17 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week awards (a conference record) and holds numerous records for Iowa State and the Big 12. During her years in Ames, she appeared in four NCAA tournaments, including two Sweet 16 appearances (2010 and 2012) and led ISU to its best NCAA tournament finish with an Elite Eight appearance in 2011. Her career has led to two different Hall of Fame inductions.
Accomplishments:
- Helped lead Denver to the 2016 NCAA Tournament
- Assistant coach for Denver's 2016 Summit League Championship Tournament Team
- AVCA All-America Second Team (2012, 2013)
- AVCA All-Region Team (2012, 2013)
- AVCA All-America honorable mention (2011)
- AVCA All-Region honorable mention (2011)
- All-Big 12 First Team (2012 – unanimous, 2013 – unanimous)
- Big 12 Libero of the Year (2011, 2012, 2013)
- 17-time Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week
- Ameritas Players Challenge All-Tournament Team (2013)
- UND Classic All-Tournament Team (2013)
- Academic All-Big 12 First Team (2011, 2012, 2013)
- Senior CLASS Award watch list (2013)
- Capital One Academic All-District (2012)
- NCAA Minnesota All-Region Tournament Team (2011)
- Northern Illinois Invitational All-Tournament Team (2011)
- Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll (Spring 2014)
- Five-time Player of the Match – Switzerland (2015)
- MVP of the Swiss Cup Finals (2015)
- Voted Best Receiver and Best Libero – NORCECA World Championship Qualifier (2014)
- Three-time Silver Medalist – Swiss NLA (2018-2019)
- Ranked 10th on the leader board for Athletes Unlimited in season one with 2,825 points
