It wasn’t just the obvious local draw that netted Wendy Anae a job on Laura Beeman’s Hawaii staff.

Beeman rattled off Anae’s other qualifications shortly after the hire was officially announced by UH on Tuesday.

To the second-year Rainbow Wahine coach, Anae’s X’s and O’s knowledge, recruiting ability and head-coaching experience went even further than her not-insignificant local ties as a Kahuku graduate and former head coach at Brigham Young-Hawaii.

Perhaps most important, Anae’s steady demeanor could bring balance to the volatile forces at work on the UH bench.

"She’s very calm. And our coaching staff, at times, isn’t. So to have her infused into us is fantastic," Beeman said.

Anae replaces Gavin Petersen, who accepted an assistant job at Pacific in July. Petersen was the lone Hawaii native on Beeman’s staff last year.

The former player at Cal State Fullerton got back into Division I at BYU, where she spent the past three seasons as the director of basketball operations.

Being able to stay in the D-I realm while returning to the islands with an expanded role meant everything to Anae

"To be a part of UH athletics, and be a part of Wahine basketball, you know, this is home. It’s amazing to be here," she said.

"From the moment I first talked to Coach Beeman, it was smooth, we were on the same page. I felt great about her as a coach and what she’s done to the program. … I’ve seen her in one year take this program and get it on its feet (17-14 and WNIT appearance in 2012-13), where it should be."

The changeout of assistants was difficult timing with the school year less than two months away, Beeman conceded, but the search played out to her satisfaction. Anae will assist in all aspects of the program, and brings a special knowledge of the post game.

"I guess the curse was a blessing, that it happened with Gavin leaving in July," Beeman said. "It’s very late, but I completely support and understand where he’s coming from and why he did what he did. … The timing couldn’t have been better. I don’t believe in coincidences and I think this happened for a reason."

Beeman appreciated Anae’s ability to build a program from scratch. Anae coached BYUH from its start in 2006 until 2010. She has also coached with the Samoa women’s national team.

Post player signs

Beeman finalized her roster for 2013-14 by announcing the signing of freshman post player Angelina Smith.

The 6-foot Smith averaged 12.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.6 steals per game as a senior at Widefield High in Colorado Springs, Colo.

She is the sixth true post player on the roster.

"When you get a 6-plus-foot post player this late in the game … it’s very unusual," Beeman said. "But you don’t turn your back on it. I know a lot of people are going to think we’re pretty post-heavy, but it gives her the opportunity … to really be able to be developed by a Mia (Kamilah Martin) and some of the Mt. (San Antonio College) kids coming in, and take some pressure off of her. And next year she can really be more of an impact player for us."