HONOLULU – University of Hawai'i head women's basketball coach Dana Takahara-Dias announced today the hiring of two coaches and a director of operations to her inaugural staff. Former Rainbow Wahine assistants Da Houl and Serenda Valdez return to the sidelines for UH and Sherice Ajifu joins Takahara-Dias' staff.

 

Houl, who spent 12 seasons under former Rainbow Wahine head coach Vince Goo, will become Takahara-Dias' associate coach. Valdez, who also spent 12 years under Goo, will be an assistant coach. Ajifu recently graduated from the University of the Pacific and will be the director of operations.

 

“I am very pleased to announce the addition of two outstanding coaches to the Rainbow Wahine program,” Takahara-Dias said. “Da and Serenda have a tremendous amount of experience and passion working at UH and we are all excited to revitalize the program.”

 

Both Houl and Valdez joined the UH coaching staff in 1992 and were instrumental parts in helping the Rainbow Wahine reach three NCAA Tournaments and four WNIT appearances.

 

While coaching under Goo, Houl and Valdez helped develop numerous stand-out players for the Rainbow Wahine, and also helped lead UH to three first place conference finishes and five second place finishes.

 

Houl began her first stint at UH as a part-time assistant in 1992 and was promoted to full-time status in 1995. Houl played for the Rainbow Wahine from 1984-87, playing three years with Takahara-Dias.

 

Along with her college coaching experience, Houl also has plenty of experience at the high school level. For the past five years she has been an assistant at Mid-Pacific Institute, and has also coached at Brea Olinda High School and Katella High School, each in California.

 

Valdez came to UH as a graduate assistant in 1992 and has been at UH ever since. After coaching with Goo, Valdez has served as the Assistant Director of Student Affairs/Athletics for the past five years.

 

Valdez played at Cal-Poly Pomona from 1987-1991 where she was an all-conference performer. Valdez began her coaching career at Mount San Antonio Community College in Walnut, Calif., prior to coming to UH.

 

Ajifu graduated from the University of the Pacific with a bachelor's degree in sport sciences. She worked for the Mayor Mufi Hannemann Basketball Jamboree and had been a summer girls basketball coach at Mid-Pacific Institute.