Hawai`i volleyball coach Dave Shoji was named the AVCA West Region Coach of the Year. Shoji has led the second-ranked Rainbow Wahine to just their second undefeated regular season, despite having just one returning starter back from 2003. He won his eighth WAC Coach of the Year award in 2004 and has guided his team to their 23rd NCAA Tournament. Shoji also earned the honor in 2003.
Shoji has the highest winning percentage of any active head coach (.853) with a mark of 870-149-1 and 30 consecutive winning seasons. In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year, Hawai`i has defeated four current nationally ranked teams and won 11 regular season matches against teams that are in the 2004 NCAA Tournament.
The Rainbow Wahine have won 65 of their last 66 matches with the only defeat a loss in the national semifinals in 2003. Shoji was named AVCA Region Coach of the Year for the seventh time (1987, 1988, 1989, 1995, 1998, 2003, 2004). Shoji was honored with the 2002 USA Volleyball All-Time Great Coach Award.