Kirshner attended Mission San Jose High School in Fremont, California where he played soccer, badminton and ran cross country. He graduated in 1987 and was inducted into the school’s first Hall of Fame class in 2001. After graduating from high school, Kirshner attended Rutgers University. He graduated in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in communication with honors and as a member of the 1990 NCAA National Finalist team, the squad's members were inducted to the Rutgers Hall of Fame in 2015. Kirshner was also a part of the 1987 NCAA Quarterfinalist team and the 1989 Semi-Finalist team.
Maccabiah team
In 1993, Kirshner was a member of the U.S. Jewish national soccer team which won the bronze medal at the 1993 Maccabiah Games; the third world's largest sporting event. In 1997, Kirshner captained the U.S. team, where they beat the gold medalist Brazil in group play.
Kirshner was selected for the first MLS combine held in Irvine, California in 1996. Although not drafted or signed by MLS, Kirshner played professionally with the Reno Rattlers of the USISL, while guesting for MLS' San Jose Clash in reserve team and inter squad matches.
Coaching
College
In 1992, Cañada College hired Kirshner as the head coach of the women’s soccer team and assistant coach of the men’s team. Up to that time, the team had never won a conference game. In 1994, Kirshner coached them to a 16–1–3 record, a CA State Quarterfinal berth, while garnering Coast Conference Coach of the Year recognition. In 1995, Kirshner moved to Ohlone College to be co-head coach with Harold Whitmore. From Ohlone, Kirshner returned to his alma mater Rutgers where he was an assistant coach for the 1996 season and helped Rutgers to a NCAA sweet 16 appearance while being ranked as high as 4th in the country. Kirshner then moved back west to become an assistant coach at San Diego State in 1997. He served in that capacity for three seasons before becoming head coach in 2000. Kirshner went to back to back NCAA Tournaments in 2005 and 2006. In the 2010 and 2011 seasons, Kirshenr also led the Aztecs to back to back 10 win seasons for the first time since 1991. Most recent, Kirshner's Aztecs went to the tournament in 2016 in a season highlighted by a top 10 ranking, finishing the regular season in the top 25, and beating the number 1 ranked team in the country; it is known to be the first SDSU athletic team to accomplish this feat. Kirshner currently remains at SDSU as one of only three coaches in its 50-year history, celebrated during the 2017 season.
Maccabiah
In 2003, Kirshner became the coach of the U.S. U-20 team which won a bronze medal at the Pan-American Maccabiah games in Santiago, Chile. He was elevated to the position of national U.S. Maccabiah team head coach in 2005, where the squad won the silver medal for the first time since 1981 as well as the tournament's Fair Play Award. Two future US World Cup players where on the squad as well as a number of future professionals.
Youth clubs
In 1999, Kirshner became the director of soccer operations of the Hotspurs Soccer Club. He left that position in 2002 to coach with Cliff Tabor at Rancho Penasquitos. Kirshner then followed his coaching partner, Tabor to the Carlsbad Lightning. Their Carlsbad Elite teams went to the State Quarterfinals as well as won the coveted Coast League Premier Cup.
