Kirk attended Mira Costa HS, and then moved to UCLA as a starter for 2017 SCIVBHOF member Al Scates on the first 2 NCAA title teams in 1970 & 71 and was NCAA Co-MVP. The lefty also played for USA national team for 7 years (1968-75) that missed Olympic qualifying in 1972 and 76 before he suffered a training broken spine paralysis accident in Italy that ended his VB playing career in January, 1976.

He was the first American VB player to compete in the Italian First Division. He played on the 1970 & 74 USA teams at the World Championships, and in the 1971 Pan-American Games. He was the Pepperdine head coach for three years from 1978-81 and then an assistant for 1985 Waves NCAA title team. He did Olympic Games TV announcing for NBC Sports in 1992 and 1996. He won the 1977 USVBA Medal of Honor, 2002 International VB HOF Mintonette Medallion of Merit Award, and was a UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame charter member in 1984.  He was selected to the California Beach Hall of Fame. He passed away in July of 2002.