Laura Beeman is calling it a career at the University of Hawaiʻi, stepping down as head coach of the Rainbow Wahine after a 14 season run that helped push the program back onto the national radar. The university said in a press release that she will stay on through a transition period while a national search for her replacement gets underway.
The retirement move was first reported by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, which noted that the announcement came via a university release. The outlet quoted athletics director Matt Elliott saying, “Laura Beeman’s impact on this program and this university cannot be overstated,” and reported that the school plans for her to continue leading the team until a new head coach is in place.
Beeman's Record and Legacy
Beeman, who became the program's eighth head coach when she was hired in 2012, exits after 14 seasons and a 244-179 mark at Hawaiʻi. During her tenure the Rainbow Wahine collected multiple Big West regular season championships, three conference tournament titles and several postseason appearances, according to Hawai'i Athletics.
This Season and the Big West Final
In what turned out to be Beeman's final year on the UH sideline, the Rainbow Wahine finished 22-11 overall and 14-6 in Big West play before falling to UC San Diego in the conference championship game, per UC San Diego. The push into the title game capped a season that underscored how routinely the program has been in the mix near the top of the league.
What's Next for the Program
The university release stated that Beeman will remain in charge during the transition period while UH conducts a national search for its next head coach, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. The timing is significant, as UH is set to join the Mountain West Conference on July 1, 2026, a shift that will alter the program's travel demands and recruiting map, per University of Hawaiʻi System News.
Beeman exits leaving behind a program that climbed from rebuilding years to regular season titles and NCAA tournament trips, a standard that will loom over the search for her successor. As UH's athletic department plots the next chapter for Rainbow Wahine basketball, fans, players and local leaders will be watching closely to see who is handed the keys to what Beeman helped rebuild.
