happy to officially announce my retirement as the Rainbow Wahine volleyball coach,” Shoji said. “After much
discussion with my wife Mary and my immediate family we felt the time was right to step away from coaching. I feel truly humbled and honored to have
coached for 42 years and I’m grateful for all the support from our great fans, student-athletes, assistant coaches and administration. The selection of Robyn Ah Mow-Santos is an excellent choice.
She has the passion for the game; she found success at every level as a player; and she paid her dues as an assistant c
oach and is now ready to assume a head coaching position. She will have my full support and I wish her nothing but the best.”
Ah Mow-Santos is only the third head coach in program history. She is considered one of the most decorated
players in school history, with an impressive resume that includes three Olympic Games appearances, two first-
team All-America selections, and is a member of the school’s Sports Circle of Honor and Hawaiʻi Sports Hall of Fame.
“We are excited about the return of Robyn Ah Mow-Santos to the University of Hawaiʻi Rainbow Wahine Volleyball
program,” Matlin said. “There is no other person I can think of who represents the
sport of volleyball, the spirit of Hawaiʻi, and the heart of a champion more than Robyn. She was impressive as a student-athlete, a leader of Team USA in three
Olympic Games and is an incredible role model for all young athletes. I know she will be able to get the best out of her student-athletes both in the classroom and on the court.”
“I am excited and humbled at the same time,” Ah Mow-Santos said. “Replacing Dave Shoji is impossible. I will never forget what he has done for me
personally as well as the Hawaiʻi volleyball program. Dave walked me out of the McKinley High School gym and into the Rainbow Wahine program that
created a lot of opportunities for me. It’s a privilege for me to be able to give back to the university and the game that has given me so much. I look forward to
reuniting with the student-athletes and hope that I can help create lasting impressions and unforgettable experiences for them.”
The exact start date for Ah Mow-Santos has not been determined. “She needs some time to honor previous commitments she has made before she can jump on a plane,” Matlin said
