Ah Mow-Santos to replace Shoji as Wahine volleyball coach

Share your news and views about University of Hawaii Basketball, Volleyball, Baseball, and All Other UH Sports
Post Reply
User avatar
uhwarriors
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 11358
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2004 12:45 am
Location: Honolulu

Ah Mow-Santos to replace Shoji as Wahine volleyball coach

Post by uhwarriors »

This is such big news, I'm posting it here for more exposure for now.

http://hawaiiathletics.com/news/2017/2/ ... coach.aspx
HONOLULU – Former University of Hawai'i All-American, Olympian, and assistant coach Robyn Ah Mow-Santos will take over for Dave Shoji as women's volleyball program's next head coach, Athletics Director David Matlin announced.

Ah Mow-Santos succeeds Shoji who simultaneously announced his retirement after 42 seasons as head coach. Shoji concludes his legendary coaching career with 1,202 wins, second-most in NCAA Division I history, and four national championships.

"I don't think anyone will ever match what Dave has accomplished for our Rainbow Wahine volleyball program in terms of longevity and accomplishments," Matlin said. "He has dedicated more than half of his life to the program and has touched the lives of hundreds of student-athletes. His legacy will live on through his well-deserved induction into the AVCA Hall of Fame and through all the blood, sweat and tears his teams have battled through on the court at Klum Gym and the Teraflex at the Stan Sheriff Center. Rainbow Wahine Volleyball will always raise a glass to Dave Shoji."

"I'm 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 coach 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 Hawai'i Sports Hall of Fame.

"We are excited about the return of Robyn Ah Mow-Santos to the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine Volleyball program," Matlin said. "There is no other person I can think of who represents the sport of volleyball, the spirit of Hawai'i, 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."

Matlin forwarded his recommendation of Ah Mow-Santos to UH Manoa interim chancellor David Lassner, who approved the selection yesterday.

"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 Hawai'i 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."

From 2011-15, Ah Mow-Santos served as assistant coach under Shoji, mentoring former UH setter Mita Uiato, who earned three all-league and all-region honors and honorable mention All-America status. In 2014, she was on the coaching staff of U.S. Junior National Team for the NORCECA Women's U-20 Continental Championship. She currently coaches club volleyball for the Vegas Aces.

Following her playing career at UH, Ah Mow-Santos went on to compete for the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team from 1999 to 2008 and was regarded as one of the top international setters in the world. She was the team's starting setter in the 2000 and '04 Olympic Games and in 2008, she helped guide Team USA to a silver-medal finish at the Beijing Olympics. She also played professionally in Italy, Portugal and Switzerland. While playing for Volero Zurich in Switzerland, she earned the Swiss League's most valuable player award.

At UH, Ah Mow-Santos played for Shoji from 1993-96 and was a two-time AVCA first-team All-America selection (1995 and '96), and a three-time all-conference performer (1994, '95 in Big West and 1996 in WAC). The Honolulu native ranks third in the UH record book in career assists (4,313) and fourth in assists per game (11.23), and in her final two seasons at Hawai'i, she guided the team to a 66-4 combined record which included an appearance in the NCAA title match in 1996.

At the conclusion of her playing career, Ah Mow-Santos was a student assistant for two seasons as she continued to pursue her bachelor's degree.

Ah Mow-Santos prepped at McKinley High School in Honolulu where she was a four-year first-team all-Oahu Interscholastic Association East selection and a three-time first team all-state pick. She is married to Niobel Rafael Santos and they have three children.

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.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/2017/02/2 ... all-coach/
Former University of Hawaii All-American Robyn Ah Mow-Santos will succeed Dave Shoji as the head coach of the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team, the school announced today.

She will be the third coach overall and first female coach in the school’s 43-year history.

“We are excited about the return of Robyn Ah Mow-Santos to the University of Hawai’i Rainbow Wahine Volleyball program,” athletic director David Matlin said in a statement. “There is no other person I can think of who represents the sport of volleyball, the spirit of Hawai’i, 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.”

Shoji said, “”I’m 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 coach 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 played for Shoji from 1993-96 and was a two-time AVCA first-team All-America selection (1995 and ‘96), also earning three all-conference honors.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/2017/02/2 ... all-coach/

User avatar
Kailuaboy
*True Sports Fan*
*True Sports Fan*
Posts: 7818
Joined: Sat May 26, 2007 10:41 am
Location: Kailua (Oahu), Hawaii

Ah Mow-Santos to replace Shoji as Wahine volleyball coach

Post by Kailuaboy »

Ah Mow-Santos to replace Shoji as Wahine volleyball coach






By Ferd LewisFebruary 20, 2017

Image
STAR-ADVERTISER / 2013
Hawaii coach Dave Shoji chatted with Robyn Ah Mow-Santos after a win over New Mexico State on Sept. 5, 2013.



Saying “she knows it is going to be a lot of work, but she is excited,” athletic director David Matlin announced
Robyn Ah Mow-Santos as the successor to Dave Shoji as head coach of the University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine
volleyball team today.

Ah Mow-Santos, who was introduced at a campus press conference, will be the third coach overall and first female
in the 44-year history of women’s volleyball at the school.


Read more:
ImageImageImageImage

User avatar
My3Cats
*True Sports Fan*
*True Sports Fan*
Posts: 3273
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:36 am
Location: Mililani, HI

Re: Ah Mow-Santos to replace Shoji as Wahine volleyball coach

Post by My3Cats »

You Go Girl!

:wav:
Cats don't have owners. Cats have servants.

User avatar
J-Rod
*True Sports Fan*
*True Sports Fan*
Posts: 21280
Joined: Fri Apr 21, 2006 5:33 pm

Re: Ah Mow-Santos to replace Shoji as Wahine volleyball coach

Post by J-Rod »

Legendary career for Dave, hope he is 100% healthy soon. Joins Les Murakami, Riley Wallace, and June Jones on the UH Mt. Rushmore.

Good hire, too. Best to stick with someone very familiar with the program.

seasider
Hall of famer
Hall of famer
Posts: 2440
Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2004 11:31 am

Re: Ah Mow-Santos to replace Shoji as Wahine volleyball coach

Post by seasider »

Great hire for the Wahine.

We know Robyn will do a great job coaching...great volleyball mind; but, the KEY is recruiting--will she be able to recruit and compete nationally for PrepVolleyball's Top-100 Senior Aces, Next-150 Senior Aces, Volleyball Mag FAB 50s, and continue keeping Hawaii's Senior Aces/FAB 50s to sign with the Wahine, i.e. Kahamoku, Kamana'o, Danielson, Cubi-Otineru, Dani-Mafua, Nikki Taylor, Tayler Higgins, etc.
Last edited by seasider on Tue Feb 21, 2017 9:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Duster
*True Sports Fan*
*True Sports Fan*
Posts: 4124
Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2005 1:21 pm
Location: Aiea, Hawaii

Re: Ah Mow-Santos to replace Shoji as Wahine volleyball coach

Post by Duster »

I agree that she is a great hire. I typically favor former setters as head coaches anyway, but Robyn also brings international and Olympic experience, preparation, schemes and tactics to the table (i.e., cutting edge stuff). Although some people say that great players make poor coaches, Robyn is not someone who made it based on physical talent alone - she had to really work at her craft and be a student of the game in order to achieve the success at the highest level she realized as a player to overcome being 5'7"/5'8" tall in a tall person sport. She will demand excellence, and can talk the talk with credibility because she's been there, done that.

seasider
Hall of famer
Hall of famer
Posts: 2440
Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2004 11:31 am

Re: Ah Mow-Santos to replace Shoji as Wahine volleyball coach

Post by seasider »

Duster,
Robyn was a 5-8 setter, not an OH, Opposite, or MB. Even at that height, she was a great blocking setter and definitely a very savvy setter with soft hands. Another former 5-7 setter, Kamana'o 4-time NCAA All-American) was also a great blocking setter.

I believe a majority of the big time women's setters are around 5-8.

Post Reply