HONOLULU — University of Hawai'i women's volleyball head coach Joshua Walker announced on Monday the addition of former Brigham Young head coach Heather Olmstead to the Rainbow Wahine program as associate head coach for the 2026 season.
Olmstead led BYU for 11 highly successful seasons and was named the 2018 AVCA National Coach of the Year. She will serve on the Rainbow Wahine coaching staff through the end of the 2026 season, Walker's inaugural campaign as UH head coach.
"I am beyond excited and extremely grateful for Heather choosing to help get things established this fall," Walker said. "She is a consummate professional and her resume speaks for itself, but I know personally how thoughtful and caring of a person she is, which is truly invaluable. Giving our athletes an elite experience will continue to be a goal here, and I know Heather can help provide that."
Olmstead is currently the head coach of the USA Volleyball U17 team and will arrive in Mānoa following the FIVB Girls U17 World Championship set for Aug. 6-16 in Santiago, Chile.
"It's a privilege to join a program with such a rich tradition and passionate community," Olmstead said. "I'm grateful for the opportunity to support Coach Joshua this season, serve our student-athletes, and help build on the legacy that has made Hawaiʻi volleyball so special."
Olmstead took over the BYU program in 2015 and guided the Cougars to a 279-55 record. Her .835 winning percentage ranked fourth among active Division I coaches when she closed out her career with the Cougars. She picked up her 200th win on Sept. 24, 2022, becoming the fastest coach in Division I history to reach the milestone (225 games) and surpassing the previous record held by legendary UH coach Dave Shoji (236 games). Olmstead was also the third-fastest to 100 wins (111 games).
Olmstead led BYU to six West Coast Conference championships and is a four-time WCC Coach of the Year and three-time AVCA Pacific South Region Coach of the Year. The Cougars made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances in her 11 years, advanced to the Sweet 16 five times and reached the Final Four in 2018. They spent 11 weeks at No. 1 during the 2018 season and finished the 2021 season at No. 4 in the AVCA poll at 31-2.
During Olmstead's tenure, the Cougars earned 29 AVCA All-America awards, 41 All-Region awards, four Academic All-America awards and 20 Academic All-District honors.
Olmstead served as an assistant coach with the Cougars from 2011-14 and helped BYU reach the 2014 NCAA final. She previously worked on the coaching staffs at Utah State (2003-05) and Utah (2006-10).
Olmstead also owns a sparkling resume with USA Volleyball in leading the U21 national team to gold at the 2025 NORCECA Pan American Cup and the 2024 NORCECA Women's Continental Cup. She served as an assistant coach with the gold medal winning U.S. teams at the 2022 Pan American Cup and 2015 Pan American Games. She also served as head coach for the 2019 U.S. Collegiate National Team and was an assistant with the 2020 Collegiate National Gold team.
Olmstead joins Walker and assistant coach Kolby Kanetake on the UH staff as the Rainbow Wahine embark on a new era in the Mountain West Conference. The 'Bows have exhibition games at Hawai'i Hilo (Aug. 15) and at home against Chaminade (Aug. 17) before officially opening Walker's tenure as head coach on Aug. 28 against Georgia Southern in the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
Coaching Experience
- Brigham Young, Head Coach (2015-25)
- Brigham Young, Assistant Coach (2011-14)
- Utah, Assistant Coach (2006-10)
- Utah State, Assistant Coach (2003-05)
Playing Experience
Education
- Utah State (2002), family and consumer science
Hometown
#HawaiiWVB
