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Post by kolohekeiki on Nov 22, 2014 6:42:30 GMT -5
I have just been pondering this question a lot lately and I just want to get everyone's thoughts, do you think this is really Dave Shoji's last season with the Wahine?
The reason I have been pondering this a lot lately is because with the success that Dave has had through his career I do not see him leaving on this note, after a disappointing season. With the young girls on this team I see a lot of potential and Dave sticking around to coach these girls to succeed and achieve more.
There really hasn't been any talk or mention of it by the media or anything regarding this issue, so I'm just curious to see what other people out there think.
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Post by ACE on Nov 22, 2014 13:24:08 GMT -5
Or you could look at the flip-side to this as well. He had a nice group of recruits 5 years ago (Hartong, Uiato, Waber, Goodman), but only two really panned out, and got a few good recruits years after this, but that group - although had some great wins (Stanford, Texas), never made it to an Elite 8 and did exited the NCAA's after round 2 only the past two years, one of them being on the island (and getting thumped).
Maybe, having young recruits provides his successor with players with some sound foundation to build upon instead of coming into a big time program and starting fresh.
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Post by hammer on Nov 22, 2014 14:55:33 GMT -5
Shoji is only 55 (in Hawaii years) so why would he retire now? As long as he can keep a good supply of Just for Men Touch of Gray and a good hair gel product, why not continue.
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Post by HawaiiVB on Nov 22, 2014 15:13:25 GMT -5
Dave is a legend at UH. He will decide when he will retire. Regardless of his success or failure, he has a lot of friends on campus. The demographics of his fan base has supported him since the beginning. Look at the amount of older season ticket holders with a lot of confidence in him. UH may risk the alienation of that base even if it means bringing in an entirely new fan base with a new coach. That's the dilemma a University must face when a long time successful coach retires. Who will fill the seats once the fan base leaves, or if they leave. The other side of the coin is how to let a legendary coach go to revitalize an aging program. Do you make the hard changes to keep the program competitive and in position to win.
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Post by Wolfgang on Nov 22, 2014 16:25:45 GMT -5
I don't think the fanbase is following Shoji. They're following the Wahine volleyball program. As long as the team continues its winning tradition and, more importantly, the media continues its coverage (e.g., TV broadcasts, news updates of the most mundane details such as the pertinent "Who will start?" questions that come up at the end of August training camp and the ridiculously impertinent "What is Nikki Taylor's tattoo? And where is it?"), the Wahine volleyball monster will continue to thrive.
It's not about Shoji.
As much as I admire Shoji for what he has accomplished over the years, what I least like about the Wahine program is, ironically, the focus on Shoji himself. All those celebrations (30 years, 40 years, 1,000 wins, etc.) at the Stan Sheriff Center looked awkward to me and, I think, a bit over-the-top. It borders on narcissism.
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Post by Seahawks 1972 on Nov 22, 2014 16:40:45 GMT -5
I don't think the fanbase is following Shoji. They're following the Wahine volleyball program. As long as the team continues its winning tradition and, more importantly, the media continues its coverage (e.g., TV broadcasts, news updates of the most mundane details such as the pertinent "Who will start?" questions that come up at the end of August training camp and the ridiculously impertinent "What is Nikki Taylor's tattoo? And where is it?"), the Wahine volleyball monster will continue to thrive. It's not about Shoji. As much as I admire Shoji for what he has accomplished over the years, what I least like about the Wahine program is, ironically, the focus on Shoji himself. All those celebrations (30 years, 40 years, 1,000 wins, etc.) at the Stan Sheriff Center looked awkward to me and, I think, a bit over-the-top. It borders on narcissism. As long as it borders and remains that way, he should fell good about what Na Wahine have done with him at the helm imho. Totally agree about the fan base. Like Nebraska, Na Wahine fans may go through spells but remain loyal. |
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Post by HawaiiVB on Nov 22, 2014 16:47:58 GMT -5
Wolfgang..I disagree. The many season ticket holders like myself want Dave as coach. I talk to many older fans and most of them have told me they have been season ticket holders since the 80's. To them Dave at his age makes them feel young again. They know all about Na Wahine and can spew stats faster than you can think it. They know the older players and have had contact with them even friendships. Of course loving the program is center of a fan, but the chemistry and the "sharing" of a coach's trials and tribulations throughout 40 years embeds deep in many senior citizen UH fans the same age range as Dave. To many they are his friends.
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Post by MTC on Nov 22, 2014 17:10:31 GMT -5
Most legends overstay their careers in most sports. I think Shojii will continue coaching for many years to come regardless of how successful the Wahine program is. Gradually we will hear talk of how the school owes it to Shojii to let him retire on his terms.
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Post by mikegarrison on Nov 22, 2014 17:17:37 GMT -5
It's going to be hard for whoever finally replaces him. The changing landscape of college volleyball is slowly pushing Hawaii to the sideline like it did many of the other great programs from the early days. It's going to be harder and harder for anyone (Dave or otherwise) to keep the program nationally competitive. And if someone new is running the team, that person won't get the benefit of the doubt that Shoji has earned from the fanbase.
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Post by hammer on Nov 22, 2014 18:03:39 GMT -5
Maybe eventually he can have one of his sons take the reigns ... if it works for N. Korea, why not for the Rainbow Women of Wahine ...   BTW, how does Shoji look in sunglasses? |
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Nov 22, 2014 18:18:35 GMT -5
shoji got a good group of recruits this year and incoming next year. i would think he'd like to see what he can do with this cycle of recruits.
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Post by hwnstunner on Nov 22, 2014 18:21:37 GMT -5
I think Shoji will always be a setter at heart. With that said, I could see him retiring after Higgins graduates.
OR, staying on board until Iosia graduates.
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Post by bigfan on Nov 22, 2014 18:22:00 GMT -5
Next season he should hire Banachowski and Haley as assistants with Norm Chow as a grad assistant and tech advisor. Wolfgang could do color commentary on all broadcasts.
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Post by hammer on Nov 22, 2014 18:25:36 GMT -5
Next season he should hire Banachowski and Haley as assistants with Norm Chow as a grad assistant and tech advisor. Wolfgang could do color commentary on all broadcasts. I believe Banachowski is available |
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Post by manoamist on Nov 22, 2014 20:47:05 GMT -5
Looks like Scott Wong has been biting his tongue on the sidelines. Maybe its about time the baton is passed.... Ah-Mow-Santos and he would make a good pair.
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