MEDIA RELEASE

Tolentino “Tino” Reyes has been selected as the interim University of Hawaii at Hilo women’s volleyball coach announced UHH Director of Athletics Dexter Irvin.

“Coach Reyes is the epitome of what we are looking for in a coach at UH Hilo,” said Irvin. “He has the strength and character of someone who knows Hilo and the University, and he has the experience and connections with the national programs to give us the best opportunity for success.

“The personality that Coach Reyes brings to our campus extends positive attributes with our athletes and our staff and helps us reestablish ourselves with our students and the Hilo community.”

Toletino’s job may not be easy as expectations for the program are high. Over the past three years, the Vulcans were 69-14, won two Pacific West Conference championships and participated in the 2009 West Region championship.

“(Former coach) Bruce (Atkinson) left very high standards to follow,” said Reyes, “25-2 is nothing to sneeze at and it’ll be a tough road to follow. That wasn’t a one-year thing. They’ve been there for a while.

“The core of that group is still here. So this team is surely not depleted.”

The team returns all-conference setter Katie Swenson, outside hitters Kawena Cubi-Otineru and Leilani Ramsey, middle hitter Hillary Hurley and defensive specialist/liberos Lauren Tonokawa and Shawna Kaiura.

Reyes was instrumental in helping build the University of Hawaii men’s program as the associate head coach. His recruiting efforts and work with the team’s setters and defensive strategy insights proved invaluable. During his 17-year career at Hawaii, the Warriors were 283-119 with four Mountain Pacific Sports Federation titles, three trips to the Final Four and one (vacated) national championship.

“He’s a real capable guy … a volleyball man,” said former UHM head coach Mike Wilton. “We’ve worked together for years and he’s proven to be a person of high integrity and quality. His input was always invaluable in developing the volleyball program.”

Reyes coached under UHM women’s coach Dave Shoji for two seasons before joining the men’s program. He also coached at Southern Illinois and Weber State as an assistant coach.

The native of the island of Molokai was head women’s volleyball coach at Oregon State and Chaminade.

On the national level, Reyes is the head coach of the USA Volleyball Boys Youth National Team and a former coach at the USA Volleyball High Performance Championships.

Vulcan basketball fans may remember Reyes as a member of the 1976-77 Vulcan basketball team. Reyes went on to play volleyball at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and later was an assistant coach with the Cal Poly SLO women’s team, helping the Mustangs to national recognition and success.

“It’s a homecoming to my second home,” said Reyes, “and an opportunity to be a head coach once again.”