HONOLULU — University of Hawai'i women's water polo head coach Maureen Cole has announced she will retire from coaching effective at the conclusion of the 2024 Rainbow Wahine season.
 
Cole will leave the program following her 13^th season as head coach and 18^th in the program overall. She enters the 2024 season with a career record of 203-92 and as the winningest and longest tenured coach in program history.
 
"For the past 17 plus years I have been fortunate enough to be a part of the Rainbow Wahine water polo program, however, I have come to the point where it is time for me to step away and pursue new challenges," Cole said. "I will always love Wahine water polo and the University of Hawai'i athletics department and will do anything I can to help them succeed in the future. In anticipation of my resignation, I have done everything possible to ensure a smooth transition. The program is in a great place and I am excited for what the future holds."
 
A former Punahou School standout and three-time national champion at UCLA, Cole joined the UH program in 2007 as an assistant coach. She spent five years in that role before being elevated to head coach prior to the 2012 season.
 
UH joined the Big West in Cole's second year as head coach and the Rainbow Wahine promptly paired the 2013 Big West regular-season and tournament championships. Under Cole's direction, the Rainbow Wahine have won five Big West regular-season titles, four tournament crowns and made four appearances in the NCAA Tournament. She was named Big West Coach of the Year in 2013, '15, '19 and '21 and has led UH to four 20-win seasons.
 
Since joining the Big West, UH has finished no lower than a tie for second in the regular-season standings with a conference record of 43-10 (.811) over 10 seasons and advanced to the finals of the Big West Championship eight times, including the last five in a row.
 
UH finished last season at No. 6 in the Collegiate Water Polo Association poll and has consistently ranked among the top five teams in the country each year. 
 
The program has produced 25 ACWPC All-Americans and 54 all-conference selections during Cole's tenure in Mānoa.
 
"Thank you to all of the players over the years who put their trust in me and committed to making Wahine water polo the best that it could be," Cole said. "My goal was to not only help you learn to be successful water polo players, but also to help you become strong and confident women who can tackle any challenge in life, no matter how hard it might seem. I have learned so much from you. I look forward to supporting you in any way I can in the future and watching you pursue your passions.
 
"Thank you to my husband Doug, my kids VanZandt and Clover, my parents, and my extended family. Someone once told me I could not be a mother and a successful Division I water polo coach and with the love and support from all of you we proved that statement wrong."
 
The Rainbow Wahine went 21-6 last season and placed second in the Big West in the regular season and at the conference tournament. They are finalizing their 2024 schedule which is set to open in late January. The Big West Championship is scheduled for April 26-28 in Davis, Calif.