Dave Shoji has long said his retirement would be “sooner than later.”

It might be later than this coming season, but, if it is this year, the University of Hawaii women’s volleyball coach since 1975 would like a plan for his successor in place.

On Monday, UH announced an immediate nationwide job search for Shoji’s replacement, the position being posted on the school’s website. It is listed as a “pending position vacancy,” with the application deadline Feb. 13.

It could be looked upon as a fishing expedition to gauge the level of interest and quality of applicants. The desired requirements include “successful Division I coaching experience and the ability to recruit highly skilled student-athletes.”

There was no salary range listed. In March 2015 Shoji agreed to a contract extension through the 2017 season. Shoji’s base salary is $180,000 per year, with camps and bonuses that push it past $200,000.

It’s a short timetable but one that, given the uncertainty of Shoji’s health, is understandable. The 70-year-old Shoji announced in late December that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer; he will undergo his second round of radiation beginning today.

“My intention is not to retire,” Shoji told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Monday afternoon, “but I’d like to see the program in stable hands so that when I do (retire) there is someone in place who will be embraced by the community.”

Shoji, who has coached the program for all but one season since its inception in 1974, has a record of 1,202-204-1 in 42 seasons. The AVCA Hall of Fame coach and reigning two-time Big West coach of the year is the second at the Division I women’s level to reach 1,200 victories.

Shoji and UH athletic director David Matlin met Monday to discuss the situation prior to the job posting. Matlin said this was a proactive move to ensure the continued success of one of the elite women’s volleyball programs in the country.

“Coach Shoji means so much to the University of Hawaii and to the sport of volleyball,” Matlin said. “We’ve met often and have determined this is the best step as we move forward with the future of the Rainbow Wahine program.”

“I think it’s a good thing that the university is being proactive, opening it up to see which candidates might be interested,” said Wahine associate head coach Jeff Hall, the interim head coach in Shoji’s medical absence. “When Dave does want to retire, the university will have a pool of candidates they can look at to make this as seamless as possible, if it’s this year or whenever.

“It’s one of the best jobs in the country. It’s a moment in history, and it’s smart of the department to be doing this.”

Hall has indicated he would apply. A short list of likely qualified applicants would also include former Wahine assistants Mike Sealy, the current head coach at UCLA; Pepperdine head coach Scott Wong; University of Pittsburgh head coach Dan Fisher; and current UH men’s coach Charlie Wade.

During his interview with the Star-Advertiser on Monday, Shoji emphasized that he was feeling fine physically and that this was not a retirement announcement. The search process was one meant to compile a pool of qualified candidates, in agreement with Matlin, to be proactive.

“We wanted to get a jump on the process,” Shoji said.

Shoji, who took over the program from the late Alan Kang, has won four national titles: AIAW (1979) and NCAA (1982-83, ’87). He is a 14-time conference and nine-time region Coach of the Year, and national coach of the year in 1982 and 2009. Shoji was named as an all-time great coach by USA Volleyball in 2002 and coach of the NCAA 25th Anniversary Team.