Laura Beeman selected as Hawaii women's basketball head coach

University of Southern California women's basketball associate head coach Laura Beeman was introduced by the University of Hawaii as its new women's hoops coach this afternoon.

Beeman, the eighth coach in program history, was received to a round of applause at the press conference at the Les Murakami Stadium hospitality room.

"It's not often that you have a dream, and that dream comes true," Beeman said. "To have my first Division I head coaching job at the University of Hawaii is very, very special."

She was selected unanimously among five finalists by UH's four-person search committee, UH athletic director Jim Donovan said. He glowed about her resume — a successful 15-year run as head coach at Mt. San Antonio College, followed by two years at USC.

"We are very pleased to hire a coach that has the vast experience and success that Coach Beeman has achieved," Donovan said. "Not only does she have a personality that will fit well in Hawaii and a proven track record, Coach Beeman has extensive recruiting contacts in California which will be a huge plus for us as we head into the Big West Conference next season.

"Absolutely (her in-person interview helped)," he added. "Great, in-depth conversation about Xs and Os.Her philosophy in basketball, her philosophy in team building. And building a whole student-athlete."

Beeman takes over for Dana Takahara-Dias, who was not retained on March 7 after UH lost in the first round of the WAC tournament.

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To new Hawaii women's basketball coach Laura Beeman, confidence is derived from preparation.

Beeman had reason to be confident at her introductory press conference on Friday at Les Murakami Stadium. She'd prepared for that moment for most of her professional career.

Her teams found success at each of her coaching stops, from 15 years leading at Mt. San Antonio College, to a one-year stint assisting with the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, to the past two seasons as the associate head coach at Southern California. Now she will try to turn the Rainbow Wahine into a winner against the weight of five straight losing seasons in Manoa, with no postseason appearances since the 2003 WNIT.

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For nearly a half-century, people in the San Bernardino, Calif., area have looked to their neighborhood Beeman Pharmacies for the cures to what has ailed them.

Now, the University of Hawaii is calling upon Laura Beeman, one of the few Beemans not in the family business, to supply a remedy for the school’s women’s basketball program.