HONOLULU—University of Hawai`i women's basketball head coach Dana Takahara-Dias announced the hiring of Gavin Petersen as an assistant coach for the 2011-12 season. It marks a homecoming for Petersen who was born and raised in Hawai`i and spent five years as a manager and assistant coach for the Rainbow Wahine under former head coach Vince Goo.
Petersen went to University High School in Honolulu where he played guard for the basketball team and was a running back/defensive back for the Pac-Five football team. He began his collegiate basketball career as the manager for Hawai'i Pacific under Sea Warriors head coach Tony Sellitto for four years while earning his bachelor of arts degree in justice administration. Petersen then matriculated to the University of Hawai'i where he received his master of science in kinesiology and leisure science in 2009. During his time at UH he served as the Rainbow Wahine basketball team manager for three seasons before spending his final two seasons as an assistant coach in 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons.
For the past seven years, Peterson has honed his coaching skills in the state of Idaho. He was hired first as an assistant and then promoted to associate head coach at Idaho State by former Hawai`i assistant coach Jon Newlee. He then followed Newlee to the University of Idaho also as an associate head coach. Petersen has been instrumental in helping turn around both programs into conference contenders.
At Idaho State, Petersen helped to lead the Bengals to a Big Sky Conference title and an NCAA tournament appearance in 2006-07 and a pair of Women's National Invitational (WNIT) tournament appearances in 2005-06 and 2007-08. During his four year stint at Idaho State, his players accounted for three Kodak All-America Honoable Mention awards; nine All-Big Sky Conference honors; and 17 Academic All-Big Sky Awards. Petersen was responsible for scouting reports on all opponents; acted as recruiting coordinator; projected the travel budget and organized all of the team's travel arrangements; while serving as the the position coach of the post players.
As the associate head coach at Idaho, Petersen was integral in successfully changing the culture of a Vandals' program that had previously won just 11 games in its first three seasons in the Western Athletic Conference. After arriving on the Moscow campus, Idaho has won 38 games over the past three years and finished third, fourth and fifth in conference. This past year, the Vandals were invited to the Women's Basketball Invitational touranment (just the second post-season tournament appearance in school history).
“We welcome Gavin back into the Rainbow Wahine basketball 'ohana,” says Takahara-Dias. “He returns with a wealth of knowledge and experience and will be a great asset to our program. Gavin take over the reins as our recruiting coordinator while handling our offense. We believe that Gavin will help our program reach the next level.”
Petersen will be replacing Sherice Ajifu, who was elevated from director of operations to assistant coach in mid-season this past year following the unexpected departure of assistant coach Gabe Henry due to family reasons. Ajifu will be receiving her master's degree this May in education administration and will revert to the role of director of operations until June when she will start a new job in marketing. “Sherice has been an invaluable part of our staff the past two years and we appreciate how much work she has put into our program. But we understand that it's time for her to move on to bigger and better things. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors,” says Takahara-Dias.
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