Burzis Kanga is best known by many people as the former husband of television host Hoda Kotb. However, his life story is not only linked to a famous marriage. He has spent many years working in tennis as both a player and a coach in New Orleans.
Before his name appeared in celebrity news, Burzis had already built a strong place in the sports world. He played college tennis, competed outside the United States, and later helped young players improve their skills. His long work in tennis remains the most important part of his public life.
Burzis Kanga has always kept a low profile. He rarely gives interviews and does not share many personal details online. This has made people more curious about his age, family, career, marriage, divorce, and present life.
This article explains who Burzis Kanga is, where he studied, how his tennis career began, and how he became a respected coach. It will also look at his relationship with Hoda Kotb, the difficult period around their divorce, and the quiet life he chose afterward.
Who Is Burzis Kanga?
Burzis Kanga is an American tennis coach and former competitive tennis player. He is closely linked to the tennis community in New Orleans, where he has worked with college teams, private clubs, and young players for many years.
He became known to a wider public after marrying Hoda Kotb, a television host and news anchor. Their marriage was short, but it brought his name into the media. Even today, many online searches about him focus mainly on his role as Hoda Kotb’s ex-husband.
Still, Burzis had his own career long before the marriage. He played tennis during his college years and later competed on smaller professional circuits in the United States, Mexico, and Europe. That experience gave him a deep understanding of the game.
He later moved into coaching and worked with both male and female college players. His work required patience, planning, and a clear knowledge of match play. He became known for helping players improve their skills and confidence on the court.
Unlike Hoda, Burzis has never tried to build a public image. He does not appear often at major events, and he keeps his personal life away from social media. His private nature is one reason there is still limited confirmed information about him.
Burzis Kanga’s Early Life and Family
Very little is publicly known about Burzis Kanga’s early life. His exact birth date has not been confirmed, and he has not spoken openly about his childhood, parents, or siblings. Most reports only say that he was born in the United States.
Some biography websites place his birth in the early 1960s. However, this has not been supported by a clear public record. For that reason, any exact age shared online should be treated as an estimate rather than a confirmed fact.
One source describes his family roots as Tanzanian and Egyptian. This detail also appears mainly on biography websites, and Burzis has not publicly discussed it himself. It is safer to say that reports describe him as having a mixed family background.
What is clear is that tennis became important to him at a young age. He showed enough skill and interest in the sport to continue playing at college. Over time, that early love for tennis became the base of his full professional life.
Burzis has also kept details about his wider family private. The public learned that his father was seriously ill around the time of his divorce, but few other details were shared. This shows how carefully he has protected family matters from public attention.
Burzis Kanga’s Education
Burzis Kanga reportedly completed his college education in 1984. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business while also taking part in competitive tennis. His college years helped him grow both as a student and as an athlete.
Studying business gave him useful skills outside the tennis court. A coach must often plan schedules, manage teams, work with school staff, and guide players through long seasons. His education may have helped him handle these parts of his later work.
At the same time, tennis remained a major part of his student life. Reports say he played for his college team from 1980 to 1983. This gave him several years of match experience before he completed his degree.
Balancing study and sport is not always easy. College players must attend classes, train, travel, and compete while keeping up with their schoolwork. Burzis’s ability to complete his degree while playing tennis shows that he had strong focus and discipline.
Details about his earlier schools have not been made public. Still, his college record gives a useful picture of the years when his interest in tennis began turning into a serious career.
Burzis Kanga’s Tennis Career
Before becoming a coach, Burzis Kanga was an active tennis player. Reports state that he played college tennis for four seasons between 1980 and 1983. During that time, he is said to have won more than 50 matches.
Winning that many matches would have given him valuable experience against players with different styles. Tennis requires more than strong shots. Players must stay calm, read their opponent, manage pressure, and change plans during a match.
After graduating in 1984, Burzis continued playing at a higher level. He reportedly joined satellite tennis circuits in the United States, Mexico, and Europe. These events often give rising players the chance to gain experience and test themselves against stronger competition.
Playing in different countries also exposed him to new courts, training methods, and playing styles. Those years likely helped him understand the sport from many angles. That knowledge later became useful when he began teaching and coaching other players.
Burzis did not become a major international tennis star, but his playing years still mattered. They gave him real match experience rather than only book knowledge. When he later became a coach, he could speak to players as someone who had faced pressure on the court himself.
His time as a player also helped shape his long connection with New Orleans tennis. Instead of leaving the sport after competition, he stayed involved and used what he had learned to guide the next group of players.
Burzis Kanga’s Coaching Career
Coaching became the main part of Burzis Kanga’s professional life. He worked with the University of New Orleans and served as head coach for both the men’s and women’s tennis teams. This placed him in charge of training, match plans, player growth, and team results.
College coaching involves much more than teaching serves and backhands. A coach must prepare players for matches, help them manage study and sport, and keep the team focused during difficult seasons. Burzis brought years of playing experience into this role.
He also worked as a tennis professional at Chateau Estates Country Club. In that position, he could train players outside the college system, including young athletes, club members, and people hoping to improve their game.
His work in different tennis settings helped him build a wide range of coaching skills. College players may need match planning and fitness support, while beginners may need help with basic movement and control. A good coach must know how to teach each player in a clear way.
Burzis was also reported to have served on the board of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation. The group supports sporting events and athletic growth in the area. His connection with it shows that his work reached beyond a single tennis court or team.
Earlier in his career, he reportedly worked as a sports commissioner for the Junior Olympic Games. This role would have involved helping with the organization and fair running of youth sports events. It also fits with his long interest in helping younger athletes.
His coaching career gave him a respected name in New Orleans tennis before his marriage became public news. While many readers first learn about him through Hoda Kotb, his years of work as a player, trainer, and college coach tell a much fuller story.
The next part of his life brought major change. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans and damaged the home and routine he had built. That difficult event would later affect both his work and his personal life.
How Hurricane Katrina Changed His Life
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina changed life for many people in New Orleans, including Burzis Kanga. According to reports, his apartment was completely flooded during the storm. Like thousands of others, he suddenly had to leave behind his home and many personal belongings.
After the storm, Burzis moved to New York City. The move gave him a safe place to stay, but it was not an easy change. He had spent many years living and working in New Orleans, where he had built both his career and his daily life.
Hoda Kotb later spoke about this period in an interview. She explained that Burzis found it hard to adjust to New York because he preferred the slower pace and familiar feeling of New Orleans. The change affected both his personal life and daily routine.
Although the storm brought major challenges, Burzis did not leave tennis behind. After some time, he returned to New Orleans and continued coaching. His return showed his strong connection to both the city and the sport that had shaped his career.
How Burzis Kanga Met Hoda Kotb
One of the biggest reasons people search for Burzis Kanga is his past marriage to television host Hoda Kotb. Their story began at an American Heart Association Valentine’s Day event in New Orleans.
Some reports say they first met in 1994, while others say 2004. Because trusted public records do not fully agree, the exact year remains uncertain. What is clear is that they got to know each other through the charity event and later began dating.
Their relationship lasted for some time before they became engaged. In May 2005, Burzis proposed to Hoda. She accepted, and the couple began planning their wedding.
Friends and fans saw them as a happy couple. Since Hoda was already a well-known television personality, the relationship naturally received public attention. Even so, they tried to keep much of their personal life private.
Burzis Kanga and Hoda Kotb’s Wedding
Burzis Kanga and Hoda Kotb married in December 2005. Their wedding took place in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, where family and close friends joined them for the celebration.
Hoda later spoke warmly about the wedding. She described it as a fun event that felt relaxed and enjoyable for everyone. Instead of a large formal ceremony, it gave guests time to celebrate together in a peaceful setting.
After getting married, the couple enjoyed their first year together. They celebrated their first wedding anniversary in the Pocono Mountains a short time before the holiday season. At the time, their future appeared bright.
The marriage also brought more public attention to Burzis. While he was already respected in the tennis world, many people outside sports learned his name through Hoda’s successful television career.
Why Did Burzis Kanga and Hoda Kotb Divorce?
Sadly, the marriage did not last long. Hoda filed for divorce in 2007, and the legal process was completed in 2008. Their separation came during a very difficult period for both of them.
At the same time, Hoda was going through treatment for breast cancer. She later shared her health story publicly and inspired many people with her strength. Burzis was also dealing with family problems because his father had become seriously ill.
Burzis later spoke about the marriage in interviews. He admitted that he had shown some immaturity during that period of his life. He accepted responsibility for his own mistakes instead of placing all the blame on someone else.
Some reports have also suggested that the move to New York after Hurricane Katrina added extra pressure to the relationship. However, neither Burzis nor Hoda has ever pointed to one single reason for the divorce.
Even after the marriage ended, Burzis continued speaking respectfully about Hoda. He said he did not regret marrying her and would always value the happy memories they shared together.
In her own writing, Hoda shared that she believed their marriage would work, even though it later came to an end. Their story remains one of mutual respect rather than public arguments or long-running conflict.
Burzis Kanga’s Life After Divorce
After the divorce, Burzis Kanga stepped away from the public spotlight. Unlike many people connected to celebrities, he did not try to build a media career or share details of his private life.
Instead, he returned to what he knew best—tennis coaching. Reports say he continued working with players in New Orleans and remained involved in the local tennis community.
Very little has been confirmed about his personal relationships since the divorce. Public records have not shown that he remarried, and no current partner has been confirmed. Because of this, most reports describe him as single.
His quiet lifestyle has made people even more curious about him. While Hoda remained one of America’s best-known television hosts, Burzis chose a much more private path focused on work instead of public attention.
Hoda later moved forward with financier Joel Schiffman. They welcomed two adopted daughters, Haley Joy in 2017 and Hope Catherine in 2019. Although Hoda and Joel became engaged, they announced in 2022 that they had ended their relationship while remaining close friends and loving co-parents.
Today, Burzis is still remembered for both his coaching career and his connection to Hoda Kotb. Even so, his years of work in tennis remain his biggest professional achievement.
Burzis Kanga’s Net Worth
Burzis Kanga has earned most of his income through tennis coaching and sports-related work. Over the years, he coached college teams, worked at private tennis clubs, and built a long career in the sport.
Some online websites estimate Burzis Kanga’s net worth at around $1 million. A few reports also estimate his yearly income at about $36,500. These figures are only estimates because Burzis has never publicly confirmed his earnings or personal finances.
Final Thoughts
Burzis Kanga’s story shows that not everyone connected to a famous person wants a public life. Even after receiving media attention through his marriage to Hoda Kotb, he stayed focused on tennis and chose to keep most of his life private.
Looking back, Burzis built a career that lasted much longer than his marriage. He played competitive tennis, coached college athletes, worked with young players, and remained active in New Orleans sports for many years.
While many readers first search for Burzis Kanga because of Hoda Kotb, they often discover that he has his own story worth knowing. His experience as a player, coach, and mentor has made him a respected figure in American tennis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Burzis Kanga do for a living?
He has worked as a tennis coach for many years. He has coached at the University of New Orleans and has also worked as a tennis professional at Chateau Estates Country Club.
When did Burzis Kanga marry Hoda Kotb?
Burzis and Hoda married in December 2005 after getting engaged earlier that same year.
Why did Burzis Kanga and Hoda Kotb divorce?
The couple divorced in 2008 after facing several personal challenges, including health and family problems. Neither has publicly blamed one single event for the end of the marriage.
Does Burzis Kanga have children?
There are no confirmed public reports that Burzis Kanga has children.
Is Burzis Kanga still coaching tennis?
Reports indicate that he has remained connected to tennis and coaching, although he now keeps a very private life and rarely appears in the media.
