Khalilah Mitchell enters her first year as head coach of the University of Hawai‘i women’s basketball program after spending seven seasons on the Rainbow Wahine coaching staff.
University of Hawai‘i Athletics Director Matt Elliott announced Mitchell’s appointment as the program’s ninth head coach on April 21.
Mitchell, an integral figure in UH’s ascent to Big West prominence over seven seasons as an assistant coach, succeeds Laura Beeman, who announced her retirement on March 30 to cap a 14-year tenure as head coach.
“After an extensive search that drew interest from across the country, it became clear that the best leader for our program was already right here in Manoa,” Elliott said. “Khalilah Mitchell embodies everything we look for in a head coach: integrity, a relentless work ethic, and a deep-seated passion for the student-athletes. She has played an instrumental role in our championship culture, and demonstrated that she is ready to be our head coach. I am confident she is the right person to lead the Rainbow Wahine into this next chapter.”
Mitchell first joined the UH coaching staff in 2018 and helped guide the Rainbow Wahine to four postseason appearances and three Big West regular-season championships. The ’Bows went 124-81 during her tenure as an assistant and posted at least 20 wins in each of her last four seasons with the program.
Mitchell played a key role in the development of some of the most prominent and prolific players in program history. Among them were Big West Player of the Year honorees Amy Atwell and Lily Wahinekapu, UH’s three-point career leader MeiLani McBee and three-time all-conference players Daejah Phillips and Imani Perez.
Mitchell’s elevation to head coach comes on the heels of her selection to the prestigious 2026 WBCA Next Generation Institute, a program designed for elite assistant coaches identified as the future leaders of the sport.
“I am incredibly honored and humbled to be named the head coach of the University of Hawai‘i women’s basketball program,” Mitchell said. “I want to thank Matt Elliott for his trust in me. Hawai‘i has become my home, and these student-athletes are my family. Coach Beeman set a standard of excellence here that is unmatched, and I am eager to build upon that foundation. Our goal remains the same, to compete for championships and represent this state and this university with pride.”
A graduate of LSU, Mitchell was a part of five Final Four teams with the Tigers from 2004 to ’08, including a redshirt year due to injury. She began her coaching career in 2009 as a graduate assistant at Central Florida and was elevated to assistant coach in 2011. She arrived at UH in 2018 and helped the ’Bows place second in the Big West and earn a WNIT bid in her first season with the program. She helped UH capture both the conference regular-season and tournament titles for the first time in program history in the 2021-22 season, then spent the 2022-23 as an assistant at San Jose State. She returned to Manoa the following season and helped guide the team to two more regular-season titles and back-to-back berths in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament.
“Khalilah has a deep love for that community and understands their great traditions,” LSU associate head coach Bob Starkey said. “More importantly, she is an excellent coach and teacher that genuinely cares about her student-athletes. I have known Khalilah for over 20 years including coaching her at LSU. She has a contagious enthusiasm and a desire to lead which will guide the Rainbow Wahine to levels of excellence on and off the court.”
Mitchell takes the reins of the Rainbow Wahine program after Beeman went 244-180 over her 14 seasons as head coach. Beeman led the ’Bows to nine postseason appearances, four Big West regular-season titles and three conference tournament championships
“There is no one more prepared for this moment than Khalilah Mitchell,” Beeman said. “She has been an intricate part to the successes of our program and her basketball IQ is only surpassed by her ability to connect with young women. I am stepping away knowing the program is in the best possible hands. I can’t wait to sit in the stands of the Stan Sheriff Center and cheer on Coach Mitchell and this team.”
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Hawai‘i, Assistant Coach (2018-22, '23-26)
- San Jose State, Assistant Coach (2022-23)
- UCF, Assistant Coach (2011-2014)
- UCF, Graduate Assistant (2009-2011)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- The Rainbow Wahine have advanced to the semifinals or championship game of the Big West Championship every season during her tenure as an assistant coach.
- Helped UH to the Big West regular-season and tournament titles in 2022-23, marking the first time the program won both titles in the same season.
- In her five-year tenure at UCF, the Knights notched two Conference USA championships.
- Played college basketball at LSU from 2004-2008. During her five years on campus in Baton Rouge, La., (one season lost due to injury) Mitchell was a part of five consecutive NCAA Final Four teams and three Southeastern Conference championships.
HOMETOWN
EDUCATION
- LSU, B.A., General Studies (2008)
- University of Central Florida, M.A., Sports and Exercise Science (2011)
