The University of Hawaii has begun scheduling interviews and aims to name a head coach for next season’s Rainbow Wahine volleyball team soon.

“Our goal is that in the next couple of weeks we will know who our coach is going to be next year,” athletic director David Matlin said Thursday.

The Rainbow Wahine are scheduled to play the first of three spring exhibition matches Feb. 28.

Matlin said he would not rule out a return for a 43rd season by Dave Shoji, who has been involved in the process as he undergoes treatment for prostate cancer.

Shoji, whose 1,202 career victories are the second-highest among women’s volleyball coaches, disclosed his illness in December.

Matlin refused to say how many candidates will be interviewed, saying only, “It is a fluid process.”

Monday afternoon was the listed deadline “for best consideration” of applications and UH said “about 40” had been received as of Thursday. Matlin said those applications “have been reviewed.”

But the advertisement of the position mandated a “continuous recruitment until position is filled,” meaning that subsequent applications may be considered.

Shoji, Matlin and representatives of the school’s Office of Human Resources and athletic compliance office have been reviewing candidates.

The position carries a salary range of $76,440-$143,472, but it may be exceeded by more than 25 percent upon approval of the Board of Regents. For example, Shoji’s salary topped $180,000.

Current women’s head coaches Dan Fisher (Pittsburgh), Mike Sealy (UCLA) and Scott Wong (Pepperdine) were reportedly among the four names Shoji recommended to Matlin before the hiring process began.

All have coached at UH, Sealy and Wong as associates under Shoji, and Fisher, a former UH men’s player, under Charlie Wade.

Wong has subsequently told the Star-Advertiser he is not applying. Sealy has a contract that already pays him in excess of $180,000 with the Bruins.

Meanwhile, interim Rainbow Wahine coach Jeff Hall, who also coached under Wade, has said he would apply.

The Star-Advertiser’s Cindy Luis contributed to this report