Conner Koga—Meet the Leader Redefining What’s Possible At UH

A New Wave in UH Athletics

When Conner Koga first picked up a pickleball paddle, he had no idea it would lead to founding the University of Hawaii’s first official pickleball club.

In fact, after playing the first few times in the early days of the pandemic, he wasn’t hooked.

Yet.

What started as a casual game with family has grown into a full-fledged passion. Now, as President of the University of Hawaii Pickleball Club, Conner isn’t just competing at a national level---he’s also building a pickleball community on campus.

Trading hoops for a paddle

Conner grew up immersed in sports.

Born on the Big Island and raised on Oahu, he spent his childhood dribbling basketballs, throwing baseballs, and playing volleyball. Sports were more than just an activity—it was a way to bond with his dad.

After graduating from Iolani School, Conner entered UH Manoa with plans to study kinesiology and pursue a career in physical therapy. But something was missing—competition. Although he played pickup basketball at the gym, he missed the challenge of competing.

That’s when he rediscovered pickleball.

His cousin, Rhys Wilson—a former tennis player—and Rhys’s father had already made the switch to pickleball. During Christmas break in 2023, Conner joined them on the court, goofing around and playfully challenging Rhys to see who was better. When he returned to Oahu, he bought a $30 paddle on Amazon, set up a net, and started playing with friends.

And that was it. This time, he was hooked.

(L) Conner with his dad, Kelsey Koga, and (R) with his mom, Sheli Suzuki and stepdad Ivan Suzuki

the birth of the university of hawaii pickleball club

The idea to start the UH Pickleball Club was sparked at a tournament where Conner faced an Iolani classmate—Daniel Rodi, an alum a year ahead of him.

After the match, the two reconnected, and Daniel—a “really good, extremely good” player—began mentoring Conner, helping him sharpen his game.

But Daniel also helped Conner see the bigger picture. As a player for the Seattle University Pickleball Club, he offered a firsthand look into the collegiate scene and connected Conner with a director from the National Collegiate Pickleball Association (NCPA).

That connection planted a seed. But before Conner could dream of competing on that stage, he knew he needed a team—and to have a team, he needed a club. That’s when the vision for UH’s first official pickleball club started to take shape.

After deciding to form the club, he recruited Rhys, but finding female players was more difficult.

Conner’s first recruiting win came by chance while working at a physical therapy clinic. In casual conversation with a patient, he learned her daughter—Kira Tobita—was a former tennis player who now played pickleball and attended UH. One spot filled.

Next: a familiar face from his Iolani days: Denby Nagata, a former tennis player that he bumped into at the gym. Conner made his pitch, but Denby wasn’t about to say yes without some proof. “Are you even good?” she teased. She agreed to hit the courts for a test run with Conner, Rhys, and Kira—and after that session, the team had its fourth member.

Now with four players, they had enough to form a collegiate squad.

In October 2024, the UH Pickleball Club held its first meeting. The initial meetings drew just six or seven students, but have since grown to 20-30 regular members. Now, Conner is focused on expanding participation and making UH a competitive force in collegiate pickleball.

breaking barriers

Starting a club from scratch came with its hurdles.

One challenge was awareness. Many UH students didn’t have access to transportation to reach off-campus courts. And Conner had to establish credibility for a club that, at first blush, seemed recreational rather than competitive.

But one of the biggest personal challenges for Conner wasn’t logistics—it was putting himself out there. “I wasn’t always the smartest guy in class, and I wasn’t the best academically,” he admits. “But the one thing I could do was make friends.”

Building the club pushed him to step outside his comfort zone and talk to people he might not have otherwise approached. From networking with local businesses like Sweet Enemy Clothing to exploring partnerships with major brands like Six Zero, Conner quickly found himself in conversations he never imagined having.

“I was like, oh my gosh, I’m meeting with a business owner—what is happening?” he said.

He’s also learning how to hold conversations and speak confidently in front of a group. “Before, I’d definitely be the one sitting quietly on the side. But now, with 30 people looking at me during meetings, I’ve had to learn to look at them and speak in front of people without my hands shaking or feeling nervous.”

Looking ahead, Conner hopes his legacy will be more than just a roster of players—he’d love to have a dedicated pickleball court on the UH campus. “Not everyone has transportation,” he explains. “Having a spot on campus would allow more students to play.”

And...add navigating university bureaucracy and advocacy to the list of skills he’s picking up—Conner recently sat in on a UH meeting to make sure the club gets funding for the fall semester.

At the San Diego Tournament (L-R): Denby Nagata, Conner, Rhys Wilson and Kira Tobita

Competing on the big stage

The UH Pickleball Club’s first major test came at the National Collegiate Pickleball Association (NCPA) regional tournament in San Diego in late 2023.

Playing in San Diego came with a surprise Conner didn’t expect—the cold. “I thought, there’s no way 50 degrees is gonna hurt me,” he said. “But no—my lips were chapped, my hands were freezing, and I was like, how am I supposed to hit the ball like this?”

At that tourney, they faced off against powerhouse teams from Arizona State University, UCLA, and Utah Tech; teams with some of the best collegiate players in the country.

Despite being newcomers, the UH team held their own, even taking a set off Utah Tech, one of the top-ranked teams. And although they didn’t qualify outright, on Christmas Day last year, Conner got the text: they earned a coveted wild card bid to the NCPA National Championship.

So, this past February, they made the trek to Las Vegas for the National Championships. There, they faced elite competition—including teams with players already competing on the pro circuit.

Rapid fire Q’s with conner

Q: What’s your go-to pickleball paddle right now?

A: I really like the Joola Gen 3 for its power. For tournaments, I play with the Six Zero Black Diamond.

Q: Favorite place you’ve ever played?

A: The HUB in San Diego. It was my first time playing at a dedicated pickleball facility with no wind—and fireplaces!

Q: Dream pickleball partner for a doubles match?

A: Rhys.

Q: Most memorable pickleball moment?

A: Winning our second tournament—the 3.5 division—with Rhys. That was when we realized, “Hey, we can actually compete!”

Q: If your close friends could describe you in three words, what would they say?

A: Goofball, driven, and kind. It’s been instilled in me to look for ways to help others.

Q: If you had a walk-up song, what would it be?

A: “Sweet Escape” by Gwen Stefani.

Looking ahead

While his long-term career plans still involve physical therapy, Conner isn’t ruling out a future in pickleball—whether as a competitor, coach, or business leader in the sport.

His ultimate goal is to go pro while still in his 20s, not just for the thrill of tournament day, but for the challenge of everything that comes before it. What fuels him most is the grind—the early drills, the workouts, the pressure to push harder.

That mindset shows up in how he manages his days. Running a club, training, competing, working a campus job, and being a full-time student isn’t easy.

He starts many mornings at 6:30 a.m. drilling with Rhys, then heads straight to classes. Living just minutes from campus makes it easier to shift between lectures, workouts, and his job at UH’s intramural office. In the evenings, he’s often at open play or organizing club activities.

“Waking up early and getting in some training before class—it makes me feel like I’ve already accomplished something,” he says.

That discipline, paired with a willingness to get uncomfortable and grow, is what sets him apart. “I’m still learning as a person,” he adds. “This is such a new thing to me, but I’m all for it—just getting myself out there into this adult world and adapting.”

It’s that humility, combined with heart and hustle, that promises to take him far—on the court and beyond.

And before he looks too far ahead, Conner makes space for something that keeps him grounded: “Shout out to all the mothers out there,” he says. “I know how much they sacrifice for their kids...how much work they put into their kids”--- a quiet nod to the support of his mom and grandmother.

As he looks to the future, his ultimate goal remains clear: to leave UH with a growing pickleball club and a dedicated court on campus for future players to call home.

One thing is certain—whether on the court, in the classroom, or in life, Conner Koga is just getting started...the rally is just beginning.