Matt Kuzminski and Tony Bryce are saying goodbye to their time as court sport leaders
Two successful head coaches at Vancouver Island University are stepping away at the end of the 2025-26 season, marking the end of an era for VIU Mariners athletics.
Women’s basketball head coach Tony Bryce and men’s basketball head coach Matt Kuzminski both announced they will be leaving their roles after this season. Together, they helped shape one of the most respected basketball programs in Canadian college sport.
Tony Bryce
Tony Bryce’s connection to the Mariners goes back more than 30 years. He first joined the program as a student-athlete, playing for the men’s basketball team in from 1990 to 1992 under head coach Mark Simpson.
“It all started in 1990 when I joined the Mariners family,” Bryce said. “Since then, blue has been in my blood.”
Even as a student, Bryce began coaching youth and helping at camps, learning the impact a coach can have on players and the broader community.
“I knew this was going to be my calling,” he said.
Bryce returned to VIU in 2006 as men’s basketball head coach. Over six seasons, he led the team to a provincial championship in 2011 – the program’s first men’s title in 15 years – and a CCAA national bronze medal. His teams posted an 87-15 regular season record and he earned conference coach of the year honours three times.
“I loved every minute of it,” Bryce said. “I missed the players and the grind when I stepped away, but I needed better balance.”
He returned again in 2017, this time to lead the women’s basketball program. Under his leadership, the women’s team earned a national silver medal in 2022 before capturing the CCAA national championship in 2023 – the second women’s basketball team in VIU history to win a national title. Across both men’s and women’s programs, Bryce’s career record stands at 227-32. He is the only coach in CCAA history to win national coach of the year awards in both men’s (2012) and women’s (2020) basketball.
“The relationships have always been the most important part,” Bryce said. “I’ll challenge my players and push them, but I truly care about them as people.”
Bryce remains at VIU as an Education professor. Assistant coach Luke Holmes will take over as women’s basketball head coach next season. In the meantime, the women’s basketball team is looking forward to the 2026 PACWEST conference championship from March 5 to 7 at Camosun College.
Matt Kuzminski
Matt Kuzminski joined the Mariners in 2013 as head coach of the men’s program at just 25 years old. His impact was immediate. In his first season, the team won a CCAA national championship. Over 12 seasons, the Mariners added a second national title in 2019, a national silver in 2015 and a national bronze in 2023.
At the conference level, Kuzminski’s teams have never missed a PACWEST championship game, earning six gold and six silver medals. Kuzminski has also been named CCAA national coach of the year twice and PACWEST coach of the year four times.
“I started coaching as a very young man – 25 years old, just out of college,” Kuzminski said. “Everything my wife and family have known is me as the basketball coach at VIU.”
He said stepping away was not easy, but necessary. “With my son getting older, it feels like the right time. This isn’t an easy decision, but it’s the right one for my family.”
Kuzminski also pointed to the people behind the programs.
“I love coming into work with our staff – they’re as close of friends as I have in my life. The trophies and wins are great, but it’s the relationships – with our players and our staff – that really matter.”
The men’s basketball team are also looking forward to the 2026 PACWEST conference championship, as well as hosting the CCAA Nationals from March 18 to 22 at VIU.
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