When television audiences tune into morning broadcasts, they often see personalities who share fragments of their lives while keeping deeply personal chapters locked away. For longtime Today show co-host Hoda Kotb, public interest frequently extends beyond her on-air career to her earlier relationships. Burzis Kanga is best known as Kotb's former husband, a figure whose brief marriage to the television star occurred decades ago before either achieved widespread public notoriety in their respective fields.
Unlike the constant media spotlight that followed Kotb's subsequent relationship with financier Joel Schiffman, her marriage to Kanga remains a quiet footnote in early biographical records. Understanding who Kanga is, his career as a collegiate tennis coach, and the reality of their brief marriage provides a clear picture of this low-profile chapter.
Who Is Burzis Kanga?
Burzis Kanga carved out a long-standing career in collegiate athletics rather than television or entertainment. He built his reputation in Louisiana sports, most notably as a star player and long-time head tennis coach at the University of New Orleans (UNO).
Before transitioning into full-time coaching, Kanga competed as an exceptional student-athlete for the UNO Privateers from 1980 to 1984. During his collegiate playing days, he amassed an impressive 81-9 singles record and earned All-American honors as a senior. Following his college career, he competed professionally on satellite circuits across the United States, Europe, and Mexico before returning to academics and coaching.
Beyond coaching the men's and women's tennis teams at UNO, Kanga contributed significantly to the local sports community in Louisiana. He served as a sports commissioner for the AAU Junior Olympics and held a long-term position as a board member for the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation. His professional identity exists entirely within the athletic sphere, far removed from broadcast journalism and celebrity culture.
The Marriage and Divorce Timeline
The relationship between Kotb and Kanga began years before Kotb became a fixture on national morning television. The pair dated for a period before Kanga proposed in May 2005. In December 2005, they traveled to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic to tie the knot in a private ceremony.
At the time, Kotb was working as a correspondent for Dateline NBC, and Kanga was deeply established in his tennis coaching career in New Orleans. However, the marriage faced immense pressure shortly after it began.
In February 2007, just over a year after their wedding, Kotb received a breast cancer diagnosis. During that exact same month, she filed for divorce from Kanga. The timing of the split coincided with one of the most challenging periods of Kotb's personal and professional life. Their divorce was legally finalized on February 14, 2008.
Reflecting on that turbulent period years later in interviews, Kotb noted how navigating serious illness, the end of her marriage, and career pressures simultaneously shaped her resilience, laying the groundwork for her later personal successes and family life.
Why the Split Remained Out of the Spotlight
Celebrity divorces today routinely dominate headlines, social media feeds, and tabloid columns. However, the dissolution of Kotb and Kanga's marriage generated minimal media attention at the time. Several factors explain why this high-profile split stayed quiet:
- Pre-Social Media Era: The breakup occurred in 2007 and 2008, before Instagram, TikTok, and viral celebrity news culture dominated daily media consumption.
- Low Public Profile: Kanga was a private athletic coach in Louisiana rather than a public personality seeking media attention or red-carpet appearances.
- Intentional Discretion: Both individuals chose not to air personal grievances publicly, allowing legal proceedings to conclude quietly without sensationalized press coverage.
This mutual discretion allowed both parties to move forward without enduring long-term public scrutiny regarding the private details of their separation.
Life After the Divorce
Following the conclusion of their marriage, Kanga and Kotb walked entirely separate paths. Kanga continued his work in collegiate athletics and sports administration in New Orleans, maintaining a low profile away from national media attention.
Kotb went on to achieve historic success on NBC's Today show, where she anchored for years alongside Kathie Lee Gifford, Savannah Guthrie, and Jenna Bush Hager. She later entered a long-term relationship with Joel Schiffman, with whom she adopted two daughters, Haley Joy and Hope Catherine, before announcing an amicable separation from Schiffman in early 2022. Kotb announced her departure from the Today show in late 2024 to focus fully on raising her daughters, closing another major chapter in her public career.
Ultimately, Burzis Kanga remains a historical footnote in early celebrity biographies—a reminder that public figures often carry private histories forged long before national fame took hold.
Frequently Asked Questions
When were Burzis Kanga and Hoda Kotb married?
They were married in December 2005 during a destination ceremony in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, after dating for several years.
Why did Burzis Kanga and Hoda Kotb divorce?
The marriage ended in divorce after roughly a year, with Kotb filing paperwork in February 2007—the same month she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Both individuals maintained strict privacy regarding the specific personal differences that led to the split.
What is Burzis Kanga's profession?
Kanga is a former collegiate tennis standout and long-time head tennis coach who spent decades leading the men's and women's tennis programs at the University of New Orleans.
Did Burzis Kanga and Hoda Kotb have children together?
No, the couple did not have any children during their brief marriage. Kotb later welcomed her two adopted daughters with her subsequent partner, Joel Schiffman.
