HONOLULU — University of Hawai'i women's water polo associate head coach
James Robinson has been selected as the next Rainbow Wahine head coach starting with the 2024-25 season, UH athletics director Craig Angelos has announced.
Robinson joined the UH staff in 2022 and will succeed head coach
Maureen Cole, who announced in November that she will retire from coaching following the current season.
Cole's retirement goes into effect on June 30 and Robinson will be the fourth head coach to lead the Rainbow Wahine since the UH water polo program made its debut in 1998, following in the line of Shari Smart (1998-2002), Michel Roy (2003-11) and Cole (2012-present).
"I am extremely excited and honored to be given the opportunity to lead the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine water polo program," Robinson said. "Thank you to Craig Angelos for hiring me and giving me this opportunity. I also thank David Matlin who hired me back in 2022. This program has enjoyed 12 seasons of incredible coaching and leadership under Coach Mo, and I am extremely grateful to her for everything she has done for me and Wahine water polo during her time as head coach. I am honored to step into her shoes.
"Hawai'i's Wahine water polo team has shown year after year that it is a top program in the country, and I want to continue to build off of the foundation left behind by the many alumni and coaches before me.
"I am very much looking forward to the future of this program, but we have a very special group here right now and we are going to focus on finishing this season strong. Go 'Bows!"
Like Cole, Robinson, 29, is a graduate of UCLA and was a member of three national championship teams with the Bruins (2014, '15 and '17). He played professionally with the Hunter Hurricanes in Australia and began his coaching career in 2018, working at both the club and high school levels in New Zealand.
He returned to UCLA in 2019 as an assistant coach with the Bruins women's team and helped the program compile a 58-13 record during his three seasons back in Westwood.
He was hired as UH associate head coach in 2022 and assisted Cole in leading the Rainbow Wahine to a 21-6 season in 2023.
"So many people said so many good things about James, not the least of which was the U.S. National Team coach who had some really high praise," Angelos said. "We're thrilled to have him and we're excited that he's decided to take on the position, and we think it's going to continue the great tradition Rainbow Wahine water polo has built."
This season, Robinson has helped the No. 2 Rainbow Wahine (11-2) earn the highest national ranking in program history.
UH's start has included two wins over teams ranked No. 1 in the Collegiate Water Polo Association Top 25 in Stanford and USC. The win over the Cardinal was the first in program history and the Rainbow Wahine snapped a 27-match losing streak in the series with USC in defeating the Trojans for the first time since 2006.
Coming off a runner-up finish in the prestigious Barbara Kalbus Invitational, the Rainbow Wahine open Big West play on the road at UC Davis on March 8 and play at No. 4 California on March 10.
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