A fixture on the Hawaiʻi sideline is stepping away. Robyn Ah Mow announced April 29 she is stepping down as the University of Hawaiʻi women's volleyball head coach after nine years leading the program. She told players she wants to spend more time with her three children, and associate head coach Kaleo Baxter will take over as interim while the program searches for a permanent successor. The move closes a significant chapter for the Rainbow Wahine as the athletic department launches a national hiring search.
In a statement to Hawaiʻi Athletics, Ah Mow said the time had "come to focus on my family." The department release noted she finishes her tenure with a 165-72 record at UH and confirmed Baxter as interim head coach while a national search begins. UH Athletics Director Matt Elliott called her "the epitome of what it means to be a Rainbow Wahine" and praised her impact on the program.
Ah Mow leaves after a run that included sustained success followed by a rough 2025 campaign. The team finished 12-17 overall, the program's first losing season, a downturn that also ended a long run of NCAA Tournament appearances. As reported by Spectrum Local News, a late-November loss to Long Beach State closed a difficult year for the 'Bows and sharpened questions about the program's direction. Local fans and alumni reacted quickly on message boards and social channels after the announcement.
Ah Mow's Record And Background
Ah Mow signed a contract extension in January 2025 that ran through the 2027 season, an agreement the athletic department framed as part of a plan to continue building a championship culture. According to Hawaiʻi Athletics, she logged more than 160 wins during her tenure and led Hawaiʻi to multiple conference crowns. Her playing résumé includes three Olympic appearances and a 2024 induction into the USA Volleyball Hall of Fame, per the University of Hawaiʻi System News.
What's Next For The 'Bows
Baxter - a longtime assistant on Ah Mow's staff who has been involved in recruiting and player development - will oversee the program during the search, the athletic department said. The hire that follows will set the tone heading into the 2026 season and will be closely watched by donors and boosters across the islands. Initial coverage of the change appeared in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
