New Wahine volleyball coach at work setting foundation for success

Billy Hull, The Honolulu Star-AdvertiserSun, June 7, 2026 at 4:08 PM UTC·4 min read

When Joshua Walker accepted the offer to become Hawaii’s next women’s volleyball coach, he had to tell his wife by phone.

She was already here.

Walker, who began his first official day on the job Saturday recruiting in Arizona, spoke with local media via Zoom. The next time he sees his wife, Tehane, who played soccer for the Rainbow Wahine, and their five children, will be on Father’s Day, when he will fly to Oahu for the first time as the fourth Rainbow Wahine volleyball coach in program history after agreeing to a contract that will last through the 2030 season.

AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement

“She’s kind of been working on the kids, saying, ‘hey, isn’t this great you get to go to the beach?’ ” Walker said Saturday. “She’s going to be working on them for a while, but it’s just one of those things where it’s, oh my goodness, it’s actually happening, you’re going to be the next head coach and I’m like, it still hasn’t hit me.”

UH announced Friday morning that Walker would replace Robyn Ah Mow, who stepped down in late-April after nine years, citing her desire to spend more time with her family.

Walker said he’s already spoke with the team and will turn his focus to putting together a staff, hopefully by June 15, when he can start recruiting high school players from the class of 2028.

He expects to complete the move from Waco, Texas, after four seasons with Baylor’s women’s program by mid-July, with time left to prepare for the start of fall camp ahead of the season opener at the end of August.

AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement

“A lot of things to implement on the day-to-day to make sure that I think we’re building as a team going forward,” Walker said. “I will also take some time this upcoming week to touch bases with all of the athletes individually and try to get to know them better.”

After working seven years as an assistant coach for the Hawaii men’s program and then four years as an assistant and then associate head coach at Baylor, Walker takes over a Hawaii program that is coming off its first losing season in program history.

Hawaii failed to qualify for the six-team Big West Conference tournament after winning the previous five conference championships.

UH will officially move into the Mountain West Conference later this summer to begin a new era of volleyball.

AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement

“I would say success this year would be the Wahine setting a foundation for what’s going to happen moving forward and that they are able to find ways to win, whether it is on the scoreboard or just in life,” Walker said.

During his playing days at UH, Walker was named a second-team AVCA All-American as a junior in his first year playing for Charlie Wade.

Hawaii athletic director Matt Elliott said Friday that Wade was involved in the hiring process that eventually settled on Walker as the next Rainbow Wahine head coach.

“I don’t know why, but Charlie has always kind of looked out for me,” Walker said. “I remember the first time we had a meeting and he was just talking about what he thought I could potentially be as a player and he challenged me to do well in school and then challenge myself to be a better volleyball player and I was able to do that. The part, just him helping me and telling me what I needed to do, was exactly what I needed to hear. I didn’t need a lot of motivation, I just needed kind of a clear path, and he has always been a clear-path, straightforward kind of person.”

AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement

The core of the Rainbow Wahine team — including setter Adrianna Arquette, outside hitter Cha‘lei Reid, middle blocker Miliana Sylvester and libero Victoria Leyva — from last year is expected to return this season.

Senior Tali Hakas, who played only three matches before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery, is also expected to return for UH.

Most of the players aren’t currently in Hawaii for the summer, so Walker won’t really get to meet with them in person until fall camp starts up in early August.

“Just trying to get things going without having the team together,” Walker said. “That will be a challenge. We know there are things we all want to accomplish and want to be good at this year.

AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement

“The timing is what the timing is.”

Walker said the schedule for this season is already mostly set by the previous staff, whom he plans to meet with in the coming days.

While Hawaii hasn’t announced its schedule, other teams have, including Walker’s former school.

Baylor lists itself as one of four teams, along with UH, San Diego and Georgia Southern, playing in the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic on Aug. 28-30 at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

Story byThe Honolulu Star-Advertiser