HONOLULU—University of Hawai'i head women's basketball coach Dana Takahara-Dias announced the hiring of Margot Richards as the new assistant coach on the Rainbow Wahine basketball staff.

 

Richards comes to Hawai'i after a two year stint as the first assistant on the women's basketball team at Seattle University. She helped lead the 2008-09 Redhawks to its first undefeated home schedule and its best overall record (20-9) in 30 years. At Seattle, she handled scouting reports, formulated game strategies and recruited student-athletes primarily in the California, Washington, and Oregon area.

 

Prior to Seattle, Richards served as an assistant at Bloomsburg University (Bloomsburg, Pa.) from 2005-07 and was also an assistant at her alma mater, CS Stanislaus (Turlock, Calif.), from 2002-05. At Bloomsburg, she was in charge of post player development and helped in various aspects of the basketball program—including travel plan scheduling, handling game video footage, and was a co-director of their girl's basketball camps. While at CS Stanislaus, Richards helped analyze opposing teams to create scouting reports. She also co-directed the boys and girl's summer camps.

 

Richards started her collegiate playing career at Erskine College in Due West, S.C., where she was voted the Carolina/Virginia conference Freshman of the Year at the Division II college. Later, Richards transferred to Cal Poly Pomona, where she helped the Broncos win back-to-back NCAA DII national titles in 2001 and 2002. Richards earned her bachelor of arts in 2003 from CS Stanislaus.

 

“With over eight years of diverse coaching experience within the collegiate ranks and as a member of the two time NCAA DII national championship team at Cal Poly Pomona, Coach Margot brings a winning history and great enthusiasm to Rainbow Wahine basketball,” says Takahara-Dias. “She will be responsible for the development of the wing players and assist with recruiting from both the east and west coasts.”

 

Richards becomes the newest member of Takahara-Dias' staff that includes associate head coach, Da Houl and assistant coach Gabe Henry.

 

The Rainbow Wahine will open their 2010-11 season with the 'Ohana Hoopfest next Friday, Oct. 15 immediately following the UH vs. San Jose state women's volleyball game. The 'Bows begin their season with a pair of exhibition games against Chaminade (Nov. 4) and BYU-Hawai'i (Nov. 11) and officially tip-off their season hosting the Jack in the Box Rainbow Wahine Classic against CS Northridge at 5:00 pm on Nov. 19.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                              -UH-