When a legendary coach steps off the sideline, it doesn't always mean they're leaving the game behind. For University of Hawaii fans, there's great news: Laura Beeman, the iconic former Rainbow Wahine basketball coach, is staying right where she belongs—within the UH athletic department.
On Friday, UH announced that Beeman will transition into a new role as associate athletic director for student-athlete success. Her appointment is set to be presented to the UH Board of Regents on Thursday, marking the next chapter in her remarkable 14-year journey with the program.
Beeman retired from coaching on March 30, leaving behind a legacy that's hard to match. Over her tenure, she compiled a stellar 244-180 record—ranking second in program history for both wins and games coached. But her impact went far beyond the court. Under her leadership, the Rainbow Wahine set a program-record multi-year Academic Progress Rate score of 995 and posted an impressive 3.49 team grade-point average in the 2025 fall semester. That's the kind of winning that truly matters.
In her new capacity, Beeman will oversee critical support services for student-athletes, including health and wellness, professional development, compliance, and academic support. She'll also play a key role in coach development programming, community engagement, and department-wide strategy. It's a natural fit for a coach who always prioritized her players' growth both on and off the hardwood.
"I love The University of Hawaii. The people I have spent the last 14 years working with have become ohana," Beeman said in the release. "Continuing to work with the student-athletes, coaches and community is yet another dream come true."
And as if that wasn't enough excitement for Hawaii sports fans, there's more good news on the men's volleyball front. Three UH standouts—opposite hitter Kainoa Wade and middle blockers Roman Payne and Trevell Jordan—have been named to the 24-member 2026 Men's U21 National Team. They'll train June 12-21 at the Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, with 14 players ultimately selected to compete at the 2026 NORCECA Men's U21 Pan American Cup in Guatemala City.
Jordan, a veteran of four consecutive summers of national team training, was teammates with Wade on the 2025 U21 World Championship team that brought home bronze. Wade also helped the U19 Pan American Cup team win gold in 2025. Payne, meanwhile, played for the 2025 U19 World Championship squad and won gold with the 2024 U19 Continental Championship team. These are the athletes who make wearing that Hawaii gear a point of pride.