Saying that he did not want it to be a distraction to his team during the season, University of Hawaii women’s volleyball coach Dave Shoji held off on sharing the health news he received last month.
Just a few weeks before his 70th birthday, Shoji was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He announced Monday he will be taking a leave of absence while undergoing treatment, handing over the day-to-day operations of the program to associate head coach Jeff Hall.
The American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame coach said he spoke with the Rainbow Wahine players and staff, as well as UH athletic director David Matlin, prior to Monday’s public announcement. Shoji recently completed his 42nd year at Manoa, and is No. 2 in all-time victories at the NCAA Division I women’s level with 1,202, joining Penn State’s Russ Rose as the only coaches to reach 1,200 wins.
“I will be undergoing treatment for the next several weeks that will take me away from the everyday coaching duties,” said Shoji, adding that the situation did not mean he is retiring. “With the help of my doctors, my wife, Mary, and the support of our family, I am trusting in God to get through this and see what the future holds.”
The Rainbow Wahine are coming off a 23-6 season in which they won their second consecutive Big West title — their fourth in five years — and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Shoji repeated as conference coach of the year, the 14th such honor of his career.
“First and foremost, Dave and his family are in our prayers,” Matlin said in a statement released by the athletic department. “When Dave and I met last week, I understood the depth of how much he cares for the program and his student-athletes.
“He is an amazing coach and ambassador for the state of Hawaii, the University of Hawaii, and the sport of volleyball. We will continue to support him each and every step of the way.”
Said Hall, Shoji’s top assistant the past two seasons: “Dave is so resilient. He is a man of faith, and that will help him through this. I see nothing but positive results down the road for him. He has my full support and I will do whatever I can do to help. He definitely knows this whole place is behind him, the prayers and thoughts. He has the support of Mary, the community, his family. There’s never been a better group to support him.
“It’s a moment that I want him to worry about himself and getting healthy. Dave’s major concern was for the student-athletes, their experiences, and how they’re going to be with this. We want their experience to remain a positive one.”
The announcement took many by surprise, given Shoji’s active lifestyle and athletic background. The All-American volleyball player at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and three-sport standout and athlete of the year at Upland High School, Calif., is an avid golfer and stand-up paddleboarder.
Current Hawaii men’s volleyball coach Charlie Wade, who has known Shoji for some 30 years and was his top assistant for 11 seasons (1995-2005), said, “My father-in-law had the same thing a few years ago, and he completely recovered. Dave is in unbelievable health, and … I don’t know the details about his diagnosis … but I expect him to as well.”
UH men’s basketball coach Eran Ganot said: “The bottom line is, first and foremost, all of our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.
“He’s done so much for so many for so long. He’s a mentor to all of us. He’s a coaches’ coach. He’s Hawaii. He’s bigger than the game, bigger than the volleyball program, athletic department, university, state. He’s bigger than the state. I’ve been blessed to be around him. Right now I know for sure he will attack this with the same grit and resolve, faith, that we all admire him for and look up to him for.
“And I’m sure he knows this, he should gain confidence as he goes through this because he’s gonna have an army of support around him. And like I said, not just from the people here in Hawaii. We’re all there for him and his family. … We’re going to support him through this as he’s been for so many of us.”
UH football head coach Nick Rolovich said, “Hawaii football gives Shoji our best. If his career as a coach is any indication, this cancer better be ready for a fight.”
Shoji did not have a time frame for his expected return, other than to say he would be undergoing treatment over the next few weeks.
Staff writers Brian McInnis and Stephen Tsai contributed to this report.
