Dave Siegal Selected as New UH Sailing Head Coach

HONOLULU – University of Hawai'i Athletics Director Matt Elliott has announced the hiring of Dave Siegal as the new head coach of the Rainbow sailing program. Siegal brings a unique blend of high-performance sailing expertise, collegiate coaching success, and extensive professional leadership to Manoa.

"We are incredibly excited to welcome Dave to the UH 'ohana," said Elliott. "Dave's track record of success as both a national champion collegiate coach and an accomplished executive makes him an exceptional fit for our department. His vision for the future of UH sailing aligns perfectly with our commitment to student-athlete success both in competition and in life."

Siegal's impressive coaching and competitive background is highlighted by his tenure as an assistant coach at Boston College and head coach at Roger Williams University. During his time coaching at the collegiate level, he was part of two national championships, guiding the Eagles to the Team Racing National Championship and the Singlehanded Women's National Championship.

He has helped produce seven All-Americans and one Sportsman of the Year. Most recently, Siegal has served as a youth coach at the Kāne'ohe Yacht Club.

"Having spent my career at the intersection of high-performance sailing, engineering, and leadership, I am excited about the opportunity to help guide the next generation of UH sailors both on and off the water," Siegal said. "I believe the University of Hawai'i is uniquely positioned to attract aspiring high-performance sailors, and I'm excited to help build a program that develops elite competitors while maintaining a nurturing team culture."

Siegal's own collegiate sailing career at Tufts University was highly decorated. He was a three-time All-American and was selected as team captain during his senior season. Throughout his competitive career, he has earned multiple podium finishes in both national and world championship events.

In addition to his sailing pedigree, Siegal holds a bachelor of science in engineering from Tufts University and a master of environmental science from the University of Melbourne. For the last 15 years in Hawai'i, he has built a successful professional career in renewable energy, while managing budgeting, strategic planning, and organizational development on large-scale utility solar projects.

Siegal succeeds 36-year veteran head coach Andy Johnson, who announced his retirement in the spring of 2026, and leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of transforming UH into a consistent national contender over his three-plus decade career.

"Replacing such an accomplished coach like Andy is an incredible honor, and I look forward to continuing the tradition of excellence he established for this program," said Siegal.

Siegal will take the helm for both the coed and women's sailing programs starting this 2026-2027 season, and joins a Rainbows sailing program that boasts a storied history of success on the water. Over the decades, UH has captured multiple national titles, including the women's national championship in 2001 and the coed dinghy championship in 2004. With his championship experience, coaching pedigree, and deep roots in the Hawai'i sailing community, Siegal is poised to build on UH's proud tradition and lead the Rainbow sailing program into a new era of national success.

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