HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – After nine years as the head coach for the University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine volleyball team, Robyn Ah Mow announced Wednesday she is stepping down, effective immediately.

In a statement, Ah Mow said, “This decision was not easy,” and came after a great deal of reflection and soul searching.

Ah Mow said, “The time has come to focus on my family who have sacrificed so much time with me so I could fulfill my dream of being the head coach of this storied program.”

Ah Mow ends her coaching tenure with a 165-72 (.696) overall record and a 114-28 (.803) mark with the Big West after succeeding legendary coach Dave Shoji in 2017, reaching seven NCAA tournaments. She was also a three-time Big West Coach of the Year.

“I gave this team everything I had,” she said. “My goal was always to push these players to be the best they could be, but more importantly, to make sure they leave here as strong, successful women. Wearing the ‘H’ was a privilege when I played, and coaching this program has been a true honor.”

Before her coaching days, Ah Mow was a secorated player in her own right, a legend at UH, and an Olympic silver medalist with Team USA in 2008.

Many in the volleyball community were stunned by the news but understood the complexity of the decision.

“It’s a little shocking,” said Ryan Kalei Tsuji, UH volleyball analyst. “I think many people who have been following this program for some time but you have to look at the timing of this and recognize that this probably was not an easy decision making a decision to resign three to four months before the start of the season, a few weeks out from this school year calendar, had to have been a difficult decision to make this decision to step down.”

UH said that Associate Head Coach Kaleo Baxter will serve as interim head coach. A national search for a permanent head coach for the women’s volleyball program will begin immediately.

Baxter has been with the program alongside Ah Mow for her entire tenure.

He served as director of operations under Shoji before being promoted to assistant under Ah Mow.