Wendy Anae enters her second year as the director of operations for the Rainbow Wahine basketball team after serving as an assistant coach in her first season at UH. Anae returned to Hawai'i in 2013 after serving as the director of basketball operations for BYU's women's basketball team since 2010 in Provo, Utah. During that span, the Cougars compiled three straight 20-plus win seasons and advanced to the postseason in each year. BYU won one regular season league crown (Mountain West Conference, 2011) and one championship title (West Coast Conference, 2012). Last season, the team finished tied for third in the WCC regular season and once again competed in postseason action. The Cougars advanced to the third round of the postseason WNIT with wins over Idaho State and San Diego State, before falling to league foe, Saint Mary's. Anae has extensive experience coaching both at the collegiate and high school levels. In 2006, she was hired to head BYU-Hawai'i's inaugural women's basketball team. She coached the Seasiders from 2006-'10 with her best season coming in 2008-09 when she lead BYUH to a 16-11 record and a third place finish in the PacWest Conference. During her time at BYU-Hawai'i she also taught classes in the Exercise and Sport Science department.
Anae was a player and a coach for the Samoa National women's basketball team in 2003 and 2007. Prior to that, she was the head coach at her alma mater—Kahuku High School from 2003 to 2005 where she also served as assistant athletics director and was the acting vice-principal from 2002-03. She guided the Red Raiders to back-to-back appearances in the state championship game in 2003 and 2004. As a player and prep stand-out, Anae helped lead Kahuku to their first and only state championship in 1983 while earning State Player of the Year honors as a senior. She also earned first-team all-state and all-league honors while playing for the Red Raiders.
She coached at Timpview High School in Provo, Utah during the 2005-06 season and in 2006 she co-founded Elevate My Game, a non-profit organization that helps advance young athletes in the Native American and Polynesian populations that is still in existence today. Anae has also been a long-time volunteer with Special Olympics and at various nursing homes.
Anae played at Cal State Fullerton from 1985-88. She graduated in 1990 with a degree in history from Fullerton and she recently earned her master's degree in public administration from BYU's Marriott School of Management in 2013.
"To find the perfect fit is rare," says Beeman. "We are thrilled to have Wendy join our coaching staff. Being born and raised in Hawai'i she adds familiarity to our program within the community. Wendy will bring a variety of levels of coaching experience, ties to the Hawaiian and Polynesian communities and a sense of calm to the program. The entire staff and team are excited to welcome Wendy to our Rainbow Wahine 'Ohana."
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