UH Hilo Women’s Basketball: PACWest names David Kaneshiro Coach of the Year
The UH Hilo Vulcans were originally projected to finish ninth in the PacWest Conference Coaches Preseason Poll, but instead gave the best teams in the conference and nation a run for their money.
In a tribute to one of the most successful seasons in the program’s history, head coach of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo women’s basketball team, David Kaneshiro, was named PacWest Coach of the Year by his peers. Kaneshiro, in his 12th season, brought the team to the PacWest Conference Championships for the first time since 2014, with a conference record of 11-8, their best finish since the 2011-12 season.
“Congratulations to our women’s basketball team and Coach Kaneshiro,” says Patrick Guillen, director of athletics. “Coach has done a tremendous job this season guiding our Vulcans to their first conference tournament since 2014 while navigating a very challenging environment due to the pandemic. Despite the twists and turns, Coach led a positive and confident example and really set the tone for the team.”
“We are very proud of this accomplishment and honor and wish him and the team the best as they represent UH Hilo and the state of Hawai’i in Fresno, California,” says Guillen.
The UH Hilo Vulcans were originally projected to finish ninth in the PacWest Conference Coaches Preseason Poll, but instead gave the best teams in the conference and nation a run for their money. Led by Kaneshiro, UH Hilo split games with three out of the top five teams in the conference, topped Hawai‘i Pacific for the first time in 10 years, and knocked down, at the time, nationally ranked WBCA’s No. 5 Alaska Anchorage in overtime.
Congratulations @HiloVulcans @UHHilo David Kaneshiro for being named @ThePacWest women’s basketball Coach of the Year! https://t.co/X3tbRpE0RR
— Commissioner Hogue (@PacWestCommish) March 1, 2022
