Jim Kunau played defensive back and quarterback at Driller High in Bakersfield, California for four years, and also competed in basketball and baseball. He was chosen as Most Dedicated Player in 1974 and '75.

Kunau played football four years for California Lutheran University before embarking on a successful high school coaching career. He coached at Orange Lutheran from 1993-2011 and built the Orange Lutheran football program into a Southern Section powerhouse, earning the Coach of the Decade Award, the CIF Pac 5 Coach of the Year and Orange County Register Coach of the Year honors while compiling an amazing record of 182-52-3 and  13 league championships in 19 years.

In a statement released by the school for the Los Angeles Times, Kunau said, “I am excited for the opportunity to serve at Canyon, which is in the heart of the community where my family and I reside. I believe this is a program with enormous potential that is hungry to pursue excellence.

"I love the community where we live and look forward to actively contributing to it through our football program at Canyon. I am already blessed to be a part of a great university which impacts lives significantly. To be able to resume my passion for building Champions for Life through football is a special privilege.