National Champ Returns as Coach, Chases 3rd NCAA Hoops Title


Coach Crutchfield and Assistant Coach R.J. Sunahara celebrate the Sharks’ Sunshine State Conference championship victory.
Nova Southeastern University graduate R.J. Sunahara will find himself in familiar territory this weekend when the men’s basketball team – fresh off their first-place finish in the Sunshine State Conference (SCC) tournament – competes in the first round of the NCAA Division II regional tournament at Rick Case Arena. But instead of suiting up to play, Sunahara will be in a suit on the sidelines as a first-year assistant coach for the Sharks.
The men’s team is currently ranked second in NCAA Division II at 30-1. Their first NCAA game is Saturday, March 15. This past Sunday, the team set an NCAA Division II record with 81 consecutive home game victories while winning the SSC tournament.
“Coming back as a coach, I was extremely grateful for the opportunity to give back to the program that game me so much,” Sunahara said. “I’m excited to see what’s in store for our team the rest of the way.”
Sunahara returned to South Florida as an assistant coach job under one of the most successful Division II head basketball coaches in the nation: NSU’s Jim Crutchfield. Crutchfield was recently honored as SSC Coach of the Year.

Assistant coaches R.J. Sunahara and Nick Smith hold the SSC championship trophy.
“When Coach Crutchfield and Coach (Nick) Smith approached me about being on the staff, it was a no-brainer. We have a program that has been very successful, and it is a fun group to be around every day.”
It was under the coaching of Crutchfield that Sunahara helped lead the Sharks in the 2022-23 perfect season to become the sixth team in NCAA Division II history to finish as unbeatable national champions. Sunahara dominated the game in his three years at NSU, setting records in blocks (172), free throws (342), as well as ranking second in Sharks history in points (1,579) and field goals (594). His play and leadership on the court earned him the SSC, Division II College Commissioners Association South Region, and National Association of Basketball Coaches Player of the Year.
Now, he’s sharing those lessons and experiences with NSU’s current roster of players.
One of the key lessons Coach Crutchfield instilled in Sunahara is there’s always more effort that you can give.
“Coach taught me that if you think you are out there giving 100% effort, you can always give more and play harder.”
Sunahara earned a degree in business management at NSU in 2023 after helping lead the men’s basketball team to an undefeated championship season. With one year left of college ball eligibility, Sunahara transferred to the Division I University of Georgia Bulldogs, getting the opportunity to play in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
Interestingly, Sunahara began his college basketball career at Fairmont State University in northern West Virginia under the tutelage of another highly successful coach, Joe Mazzulla, now the head coach of the Boston Celtics. The two still stay in touch until this day.
It was Coach Mazzulla who planted the seeds of a solid work ethic, says Sunahara.
“He would get on me every day, and tell me that I didn’t work hard enough, tell me I wasn’t good enough, when in reality he was just trying to push me to be the best player that I could be.”
Once he entered the transfer portal after his first year in college, Sunahara received a call from Coach Crutchfield inviting him to come to campus and look at NSU’s basketball program.
“After my visit, I knew NSU was the place for me,” he said.
Working with Crutchfield this season as a coach, Sunahara has been learning the true ins and outs of a game strategy that fostered Sunahara’s past success. He says that a top coaching takeaway from Crutchfield thus far has been the importance of coaching every player a little differently.
“It’s all based on personalities,” he said.
Also in Sunahara’s corner is his longtime role model, Rex, his older brother. Rex, 28, is the long snapper for the NFL Cleveland Browns.
“He has always pushed me to be my best and hold myself accountable,” he said.
Sunahara credits the support of his mother, Laura, and father, Reed, who has coached collegiate women’s volleyball for several years. His father also won a national championship during his coaching career.
The 2022-2023 NCAA Division II Championship sticks in Sunahara’s mind as his proudest collegiate moment … something he hopes the team will get to experience later this month.
“I hugged my mom, I cried a bit, I hugged my dad,” he said, remembering that day.
Sunahara says spending his time in college at NSU, and returning to Shark Nation, has been a magical journey.
“One of the advantages of coming to NSU was the great education I received,” he said. “Another one would be the relationships I’ve made with the people here. They have treated me like family since the start and made my career here unforgettable.”
And now, he is part of a winning coaching team with its players headed to a national championship.
“My dad always told me, you don’t just take, you’ve got to give back. I’ve felt that during my college basketball career that many people have given me so much. And now, it’s my turn.”