Laura Beeman talked up on-court transition as a big part of her game plan as the new Hawaii women’s basketball coach. On Monday, it became apparent she has an equal eye for it off the hardwood.
A few hours after her first individual workouts with returning players, Beeman revealed two members of her first Division I staff: current UH associate head coach Gavin Petersen — who was a finalist for the job Beeman received — and Mary Wooley, a fellow assistant with Beeman at USC.
By blending the old with the new in Manoa, Beeman hopes to settle in smoothly this offseason.
“I thought it was very important, my first year, to have someone that knows the area, knows the people and (someone who) people really liked,” she said of Petersen. “I had great conversations with Gavin over the phone, at the final four. The kids really respect him, he’s very well-liked in the community. I love his philosophy on how you treat players, and his work ethic, discipline. It’s always a learning curve when you bring in a new staff.”
Many of the returning UH players endorsed Petersen as their choice during the coaching search. He returned to UH under former coach Dana Takahara-Dias for last season following assistant stints at Idaho and Idaho State.
“I’m excited about again doing the best I can as an assistant coach,” said the local-born Petersen. “I’ve been doing that for 10-plus years now, and I’m looking forward to continuing working with the girls I’ve invested time with. I’m looking forward to the future of Wahine basketball.”
Petersen headed up recruiting and the team’s offensive schemes this past season for Takahara-Dias. What his role will be with Beeman is unclear.
“All that stuff will be worked out in the coming weeks,” he said. “There’s no rush.”
Petersen gave Beeman high marks for her first spring workout sessions with her players.
“She’s a very hands-on coach and she’s very good at getting her point across to the kids,” he said. “I think every one of them today put forth the effort — that was a good sign.”
Wooley was part of Michael Cooper’s staff at USC for the past three years, allowing Beeman to get a feel for her as a colleague over the past two seasons. Wooley, a former player at Division II South Carolina-Aiken, was a three-year director of operations at Temple prior to USC.
“She brings a great, great knowledge of the game,” Beeman said. “(She) is working toward her Ph.D. in psychology. Specialty is team building and teamwork, as well as just a great offensive mind. Very organized.”
A third assistant coach has yet to be finalized, though Beeman said Lindsey Baker would return as UH’s director of operations.
