University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahines softball , University of Hawaii
Conference: WAC
Location: Honolulu, HI
Home Stadium: Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium
Head Coach: Bob Coolen
Colors: Green and White
The Hawai`i Rainbow Wahines softball team represents the University of Hawai`i in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the WAC Conference. They are currently coached by head coach Bob Coolen and plays their home games at Rainbow Wahine Softball Field located on the university’s campus. The University of Hawai`i softball team ended their 2009 campaign with a 30-24 overall record and 15-6 in the WAC.
Head coach Bob Coolen began the year entering his 20th season at the University of Hawai`i. Coolen is UH’s all-time winningest softball coach in the 24 year history of the program with a 637-388-1 record. He is also the third longest tenured coach at Hawai`i.
The Rainbow Wahine had an impressive 40-21 record in 2008, and advanced to their second straight and eighth overall NCAA tournament. It marked only the seventh time in school history that the softball squad hit the 40-win plateau. During the 2008 season, Coolen hit a pair of milestone victories. In the season’s opening tournament, Coolen earned his 600th win at Hawai`i and also passed the 700 career-win in all.
Under Coolen’s guidance, in 2007, Hawai’i reached the 50-win mark for only the second time in school history as it finished the season 50-13. The 50 victories rank as the second-most in school annals. The Rainbow Wahine claimed the program’s top winning percentage and best conference record at 16-2 to clinch its second Western Athletic Conference title. Hawai’i advanced to its seventh NCAA regional appearance and advanced to its first NCAA Super Regional. The magical season ended just one win short of earning a berth into the Women’s College World Series. In 2007, Coolen, along with assistants John Nakamura and Dee Wisneski, were named the 2007 National Fastpitch Coaches Association West Region Coaching Staff of the Year.
Coolen is the only coach in UH softball program history to lead teams to the NCAA tournament. They’ve appeared eight times in the postseason: 1994, `95, `98, `99, 2001, `03, `07, and ‘08. During his time at UH, he has coached 13 All-Americans, 25 All-West region, and 45 all-conference players. Twenty-two players have earned NFCA Scholar Athlete honors since 1992 and 23 players to date have earned Academic All-WAC honors as well. Coolen has also coached two CoSIDA Academic All-America players. The Rainbow Wahine have won two WAC titles in 2003 and 2007. Their only other conference crown came in 1994 as a member of the Big West. Coolen garnered Coach of the Year honors for all three of those seasons.
