The volleyball shoes were going to be huge, no matter who tried to fill them. But what the University of Hawaii did Monday with its double announcement was add slippahs outside the door of Office 326, naming a “local girl” as its next occupant.
Three-time U.S. Olympic team and two-time All-America setter Robyn Ah Mow-Santos was named the third head coach in Rainbow Wahine volleyball program history during a news conference in which her college coach and mentor, Dave Shoji, officially announced his retirement after 42 seasons. It capped 10 weeks of speculation over whether Shoji, who announced Dec. 12 that he had prostate cancer, would return for a 43rd season and, if not, who would replace the coach ranked No. 2 in all-time Division I women’s volleyball victories.
The selection of 41-year-old Ah Mow-Santos, a McKinley High School graduate, surprised some with its out-of-the-box thinking — and beyond that of her being a woman in a profession that is dominated by men. She has no collegiate head coaching experience, had been a Rainbow Wahine assistant for four seasons before moving to Las Vegas last spring due to her husband’s military reassignment, and was back coaching at the club level after the birth of her son four months ago.
But “it was a natural choice,” the 70-year-old Shoji said. “It makes a lot of sense in so many respects. She fits the bill every way you look at it.
“Dave (UH athletic director Matlin) did a lot of due diligence. He informed me of the people he was talking to, but I had almost nothing to do with the selection.
“The one thing that separates Robyn from the rest is her passion for the game. She loves the game, loves the players, truly loves being in the gym. It makes me feel at ease, knowing we have someone with the right ingredients. I’m happy with the decision and know she’s going to do a great job.”
Shoji spoke during the news conference Monday afternoon at the Sheriff Center, joined by his wife of 30 years, former Wahine basketball player Mary Tennefos Shoji. Ah Mow-Santos did her interview via conference call from Las Vegas, where she was between tournament matches as a coach with the Vegas Aces.
“I’ve dreamed of this but never thought it would happen,” said Ah Mow-Santos, who set the Wahine to a 64-4 record in her final two seasons (1995-96). “Dave left a legacy, and it’s going to be hard to fill his shoes. I’m excited and am looking forward to this journey.
“Me and Dave go way back. He’s one of the reasons I had this opportunity. He took a chance on me at McKinley, he took a chance on me five years ago when he asked me to be an assistant, and right now he’s taking a chance on me to lead his legacy.
“He took a chance on me his whole life. I’m honored, and I want to make him proud.”
Matlin said he received approximately 40 applications for the job after the potential vacancy was announced two weeks ago. The list was whittled to three finalists who had face-to-face interviews with the athletic director.
“It was seven minutes into our interview that I knew she was the one,” Matlin said. “Dave was on board and that was important. I’m excited about this hire.
“Our volleyball program is very dear to the community, and you can make the argument that it is our leading program. I would agree with what (UH President David Lassner) said (at last month’s Wahine banquet), that it is the most beloved program in the state.
“What impressed me is Robyn has a ‘why’ for being here. You can’t underestimate that. That ‘why to be here’ is important. A lot of people want the job, but what is their reason? Yes, it’s great that she’s a woman who will be coaching a women’s team, but I feel she is the best person for this job.”
Several current Wahine players agreed, including Farrington graduate Savanah Kahakai. Asked what it means to have a former Wahine who grew up in Hawaii take over the program, the incoming senior libero said: “It’s amazing.
“She’s been here before. Most of the team has been with her (as an assistant), and I don’t know why she is nervous,” Kahakai continued. “She has a lot of experience, just not at this level.
“It’s a big achievement for someone from the islands, from a public school, to take over such a big-time program. She’s going to fit right back in with us.”
“She brought so much to the program,” incoming senior hitter Kalei Greeley said. “She gave her heart and soul to the job, was always there for us.
“We were hurt to see her leave and are ecstatic to have her back.”
Just when that return will be is up in the air. It wasn’t just Ah Mow-Santos and husband Niobel Santos who moved to Las Vegas last summer; it was her father, Talmage; 14-year-old son, Jordan; and 6-year-old daughter, Jream.
Add the addition of son Makanamaikalani four months ago and “we’ll need time to get them all settled again,” Ah Mow-Santos said. “My newborn is special needs, and we’ve had a lot of help in Vegas.
“That was the question (applying for the job). I thought long and hard because of my family. But I talked it over with my husband and my dad. They said, ‘Go for it. If it happens, it happens and we’ll go from there.’ We’ve made it work before with my husband’s tours; we’ll make it work now.” The season begins in August.
Until then, associate coach Jeff Hall will continue to run both the indoor and beach programs, the latter of which he is head coach. Hall, who was on a recruiting trip over the weekend, is in California today for a Big West indoor coaches meeting.
“I think Robyn is a fantastic hire,” said Hall, who also applied for the position. “I think Matlin hit a home run with this.
“Robyn is Wahine volleyball. She will do really well.”
Ah Mow-Santos did not address whether she would retain the remaining staff, which includes Hall and newly named assistant Kaleo Baxter.
