University of Hawaii associate coach Howard Wallace has been named head women's volleyball coach at Creighton University, Creighton athletic director Bruce Rasmussen announced today. UHassistant takes Creighton job
Wallace leaves UH after the Wahine went 35-3 in 1996, including a 16-0 record in the Western Athletic Conference and a runner-up finish in the NCAA Tournament to national champion Stanford University.
"Howard comes from the best volleyball program in the country where they have competed for the national title each year while leading the nation in attendance, and he has been very instrumental in their success," Rasmussen said through a press release. "We believe Howard will provide us instant credibility in women's volleyball on a national level."
The Kailua High graduate joined the Hawaii program in 1988 as a volunteer assistant coach and was promoted to full-time status in 1990.
"Howard is a great personal loss to both me and the program," UH head coach Dave Shoji said. "His work ethic and loyalty are unmatched, and I wish him the best of luck."
Wallace began his coaching career in 1983 at San Bernardino Valley College (Calif.) before moving to an assistant position at the University of Houston in 1984. He helped the Cougars go from a .500 team to posting 20 wins.
"Although I will greatly miss the team, coaching staff and everyone associated with the women's volleyball program, this is an excellent opportunity for me to further my career," Wallace said.
Shoji said that Charlie Wade would become the associate coach and a national search for an assistant begins immediately.
LeGrand Sakamaki of Hilo defended his 130-pound national title with lifts of 231 pounds in the snatch and 292 pounds in the jerk for a 523-pound total at the National Junior Weightlifting Championships in Flagstaff, Ariz., this past weekend. SAKAMAKI ON WORLD TEAM
The 19-year-old Sakamaki's showing landed him a spot on the U.S. team for the Junior World Championships to be held in Capetown, South Africa, in May.
Catherine Sakamaki, LeGrand's 15-year-old sister, also defended her national crown in the 100-pound class with a snatch of 116 pounds and a jerk of 259 pounds for a 375-pound total.
Gene Descalzi, coach of the Chaminade University men's and women's tennis teams, announced yesterday that he will retire at the end of the current season. CHAMINADE COACH TO RETIRE
Descalzi has coached the Silverswords since 1993.
The inaugural Running Room Powerman Honolulu Duathlon, a run-bike-run event, will be held Sunday starting and ending at Haleiwa's Kaiaka Beach Park, at 6:30 a.m. DUATHLON SUNDAY
Three events will be run concurrently: a long course, short course and relay.
Among the elite contestants are Heather Fuhr, seventh-place finisher in the Ironman Triathlon World Championships, and Lucy Smith, who finished second at the 1996 World Duathlon Championships.
UH TRAFFIC: The University of Hawaii will provide a free shuttle bus from upper campus to the Special Events Arena for fans attending tomorrow's first-round NIT basketball game between Hawaii and Oregon.
The bus will run from 5:30 p.m. until 11 p.m.
