Mike Burger
Former Rainbow Warrior tennis player Mike Burger is in his fourth season as an assistant coach. Beside his on-court responsibilities, Burger is involved in nearly all other aspects of the program, including recruiting and scheduling.
In Burger’s first year as an assistant coach, the Rainbow Warriors won their second straight WAC Championship, picked up a historic win over No. 20 Oklahoma State in the NCAA Tournament and ended the season with its highest ITA ranking in school history.
Prior to joining the UH coaching staff, Burger served as the head coach at Iolani School in Honolulu (2000-08). He led the Raiders to three state runner-up finishes and was named the 2002 league coach of the year after his squad handed powerhouse Punahou its first loss in 17 years. Burger also recently held the coaching position for the Hawai`i Pacific Section 18-and-under team that competed in the 2007 team nationals.
A graduate of Baldwin High School in Maui, Burger was one of the state’s top ranked junior tennis players and eventually joined the UH tennis team as walk-on in 1991. Playing under head coach Jim Schwitters, Burger served as team captain during his senior season when he played at the No. 1 doubles position.
Following his playing career as a Rainbow Warrior, Burger created the tennis curriculum for UH’s Leisure Program in 1994. He also spent five years as a private coach, tutoring some of Hawaii’s top junior players, while at the same time coaching the Mid-Pacific tennis team. In 1997, Burger earned his undergraduate degree from UH in liberal studies with an emphasis in exercise physiology.
Burger is a detective and 13-year veteran in the Honolulu Police Department. He and his wife, Bernice, live in Honolulu.
