Gabe Henry has resigned his post as assistant coach with the Hawaii women’s basketball team, head coach Dana Takahara-Dias announced in a release yesterday.

Henry, a first-year member of the Rainbow Wahine coaching staff, returned home to Kansas City to take care of his ailing father.

"I appreciate and enjoyed the opportunity to be part of the Rainbow Wahine coaching staff and wish the coaches, players and University of Hawaii all the best in the future," Henry said in a release.

"He’s very close to his family," Takahara-Dias said. "It was very unfortunate and sudden that his father was hospitalized. At that time we basically told him, ‘Please go home and take care of your family.’ His father is doing much better now, however, he made the decision that he needs to be home."

Takahara-Dias promoted Sherice Ajifu from director of operations to assistant coach to fill Henry’s spot on the staff. Ajifu, a graduate of Mid-Pacific Institute and the University of the Pacific, joins associate head coach Da Houl and assistant Margot Richards on the coaching staff.

"She knows the system and she knows the program, and she’s proven her worth as director of basketball operations," Takahara-Dias said. "We’re very pleased that she’s able to step into this role very seamlessly."

Tagalicod to join UH

The Rainbow Wahine have signed former Hilo standout Vicky Tagalicod as a transfer from USC, Takahara-Dias announced.

Tagalicod, a 5-foot-9 point guard, sat out her senior year at Hilo due to a knee injury and redshirted with the Trojans last season. She will enroll at UH for the spring semester and will be eligible to play in the spring of 2012.

Before her injury, Tagalicod was selected to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin’s Fab 15 and was a second-team All-State pick by the Honolulu Advertiser each of her first three years of high school. She played summer ball for Takahara-Dias with the Team Aloha all-star team and also played with the California Storm club team.

Takahara-Dias said Tagalicod will contribute at the point and as a wing player for the Wahine, who will lose starting point guard Keisha Kanekoa and shooting guard Megan Tinnin next season.

"I think in the back of her mind, she always wanted to come home, perhaps," said Takahara-Dias, who noted Tagalicod endured a coaching change right after she arrived at USC. "Play in front of family and friends, here, she’s got a great support system, too. We’re very excited to have her play for us. … What’s really good about Vicky is her athleticism and her ability to run the floor for 94 feet. She gives (us) an added dimension."