Originally Published by Honolulu Advertiser on 6/24/09 at 5:33 p.m. by Staff
Da Houl, Serenda Valdez named Rainbow Wahine basketball assistants
Former University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine assistants Da Houl and Serenda Valdez will return to the coaching staff of new coach Dana Takahara-Dias, the school announced today.
Also named to the staff is Sherice Ajifu, who will be the director of operations.
Houl, who spent 12 seasons under former Rainbow Wahine head coach Vince Coach, will be the associate head coach. Valdez, who also spent 12 years under Goo, will be an assistant coach.
“I am very pleased to announce the addition of two outstanding coaches to the Rainbow Wahine program,” Takahara-Dias said in a press statement. “Da and Serenda have a tremendous amount of experience and passion working at UH and we are all excited to revitalize the program.”
Both Houl and Valdez joined the UH coaching staff in 1992 and were instrumental parts in helping the Rainbow Wahine reach three NCAA Tournaments and four WNIT appearances.
Houl began her first stint at UH as a part-time assistant in 1992 and was promoted to full-time status in 1995. Houl played for the Rainbow Wahine from 1984-87, playing three years with Takahara-Dias.
For the past five years, Houl was an assistant at Mid-Pacific Institute, and has also coached at Brea Olinda High School and Katella High School in California.
Valdez came to UH as a graduate assistant in 1992 and has been at UH ever since. After coaching with Goo, Valdez has served as the Assistant Director of Student Affairs/Athletics for the past five years.
Valdez played at Cal-Poly Pomona from 1987-1991, where she was an all-conference performer. Valdez began her coaching career at Mount San Antonio Community College in Walnut, Calif., prior to coming to UH.
Ajifu, a recent graduate from the University of the Pacific, worked for the Mayor Mufi Hannemann Basketball Jamboree and had been a summer girls basketball coach at Mid-Pacific Institute.
Former University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine assistants Da Houl and Serenda Valdez will return to the coaching staff of new coach Dana Takahara-Dias, the school announced today.
Also named to the staff is Sherice Ajifu, who will be the director of operations.
Houl, who spent 12 seasons under former Rainbow Wahine head coach Vince Coach, will be the associate head coach. Valdez, who also spent 12 years under Goo, will be an assistant coach.
“I am very pleased to announce the addition of two outstanding coaches to the Rainbow Wahine program,” Takahara-Dias said in a press statement. “Da and Serenda have a tremendous amount of experience and passion working at UH and we are all excited to revitalize the program.”
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Originally Published by the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin on 06/24/2009 05:56:29 PM by Wes Woods II
Warped Tour back for 15th year
POMONA – The 2009 Warped Tour, now in its 15th year, has given a lot of bands their start.
“It’s great some bands recognize that,” said founder Kevin Lyman. “They said, `Hey, that gave us the place to perform.’ It taught us to be a live band.”
Coming back this year for the Friday event at the Pomona Fairplex are punk bands Bad Religion, NOFX, Guttermouth and many others. Lyman mentioned post-hardcore A Day to Remember, powerpop group TV/TV, metalcore The Devil Wears Prada and pop group Lights as artists to watch.
Lyman, who grew up in Claremont and graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 1984 with a recreation administration degree, has taken a lot of criticism from artists that his tour has too many advertisements.
“I’ve been doing this for 15 years,” Lyman said. “Some tours are still going and some have ended. We’re not for everyone. There’s room for everyone.”
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