HONOLULU – University of Hawai'i women's golf head coach Stephen Bidne has resigned to accept the associate head coach position with the University of Kansas women's program. Bidne completed his fifth season with the Rainbow Wahine and led the team to a record-breaking 2021-22 campaign.
 
A national search will begin immediately.
 
"I am so thankful for the opportunity David Matlin gave me five years ago, when he entrusted me to lead the Rainbow Wahine Golf program," Bidne said. "While we were able to accomplish some pretty great feats these past five years, it is the people that I will miss the most – players both past and present, UH supporters, friends and co-workers. Hawai'i will always have a special place in my heart. It is where my daughter Emerson and soon-to-be-second daughter were born, and a place where my wife Addison and I have created so many lifelong memories. Mahalo nui for everyone's support of Rainbow Wahine Golf, myself and my family. As they say it's not goodbye, it's a hui hou."
 
Bidne led UH to four team victories this season including a co-Big West Championship, the program's first-ever conference title. Hawai'i just missed out on its first NCAA Regional appearance since 2007, losing in a playoff to co-champion Cal Poly.
 
In five seasons, Bidne led UH to six team victories and six individual titles, both of which are the most by any head coach in program history. This past season, he guided the Rainbow Wahine to their highest national ranking (#78) in 15 years and their best-ever team scoring average (298.3).
 
The team also set scoring records for low round (282) and low 54-hole score (854), both at the Fresno State Classic, which was one of the team's four wins and one of a record eight Top 5 finishes on the year. In addition, the team posted the most birdies (336) and most eagles (7) in a single-season in program history.
 
Two different Rainbow Wahine earned medalist honors this season, including freshman sensation Momo Sugiyama, who won the Couer d'Alene Collegiate. The Gold Coast, Australia native set a new individual scoring average mark (73.4) along with records for low 54-hole score (211 at the Fresno State Classic), most total birdies (85), and rounds of par or better (13). She was UH's lone representative on the all-Big West first team and was named the school's Rookie of the Year.
 
Bidne took over the program in 2017 and immediately made an impact, earning Big West co-Coach of the Year honors during his inaugural season. The St. Paul, Minn., native came to UH from his alma mater Northern Colorado, where he coached for four seasons.