University of Providence Athletics

Arunas Duda is entering is 22nd year leading the University of Providence volleyball program. Duda was a member of the 2024 Argo Athletics Hall of Fame class that was inducted over Argo Weekend. 

As the second head coach in team history, Duda has seen the program grow from its infancy into a perennial contender in the Frontier Conference, the region, and nationally. Since taking the reins of the program, Duda has guided the Argonauts to 388 wins and 16 winning seasons, including ten 20-win campaigns He has twice won the University Staff Meritorious Award and was the 2017-2018 Frontier Conference NAIA Coach of Character award winner. Coach Duda has also been named the Frontier Conference Coach of the Year four times, earning the honor in 2005, 2006, 2020, and 2024.

In 2021 Duda had his best finish in program history with a record of 28-3 and finished the season ranked fifth nationally. The Argos won their first two matches of the NAIA Naitonal Tournament before falling in the National Quarterfinals to Park University in four sets. 

The 2020 season was Duda's most successful season at the time, leading his team to the program's first ever outright conference regular season championship and the team's third straight Frontier Conference Tournament Championship. The team finished 15th in the nation, defeating Olivet Nazarene in the opening round of the NAIA playoffs before traveling to Sioux City, Iowa for the NAIA National Tournament. The Argos defeated Viterbo in straight sets before falling to Jamestown in the Round of Sixteen. 

He led the Argos to a 25-8 record the year before, a season which included a NAIA National Tournament appearance and a Frontier Conference Tournament Championship without dropping a set. 

The Argos finished 23-11 in 2018, good enough for second place in the Frontier Conference regular season. They went on to win the Frontier Conference Tournament, earning the program's first bid to the NAIA National Tournament.  The Argos won their final match of the tournament with a 3-0 decision of Milligan University which marked their first ever win at the National Tournament and a postseason ranking of #20 in the country. The Argos were also named 2018 Team Champion of Character at the National Tournament. 

Since arriving at UP, Duda's success has been predicated on his ability to recruit and develop top-caliber athletes as well as his work in building lasting and meaningful relationships with his athletes. In his short time at UP, Duda has brought in many athletes that have received conference, regional, and national recognition. There have been 12 All-Americans, 30 All-Region players, 56 All-Conference players, and 18 All-Freshman players, one Conference and Regional Libero of the Year. In the classroom he has produced 58 academic all-region and 160 academic all-conference student athletes. 

Duda came to the University of Providence after serving as the assistant volleyball coach at Santa Monica College in California for two seasons. Duda was a major contributor to the success of the SMC program during the 2002 and 2003 seasons. With him on the coaching staff, the team finished both seasons ranked in the top 15 of the state and made it to the second round of post-season play.

Prior to his stint at SMC, Duda was a volunteer assistant coach for the women's volleyball program at his alma mater, Santa Clara University. SCU made several NCAA post-season appearances in Duda's time with the program. Duda also developed strong California recruiting ties through four years of coaching the City Beach Club Team in San Jose, Calif.

As a player, Duda prepped at Loyola High School in Los Angeles.  He was an All-American at the junior club level for team East Beach in Santa Barbara, Calif.  He also won a gold medal and two silver medals at the Junior Olympics from 1994-1998.

Arunas and his wife Jennifer have two boys, Miles and Mace and reside in Great Falls where they are active members of their community.