Long-time soccer coach Bob Barry has decided to return to Hawaii. Barry returning as
UH soccer assistantBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comAfter coaching the Willamette men's team for a year, Barry will join the Hawaii Wahine soccer program as an assistant coach June 1.
Barry, a coach for 34 years, previously coached men's teams at Massachusetts, Richmond and Brigham Young-Hawaii. He also coached in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu for many years with stints at Mid-Pacific, Saint Louis and Iolani.
He led Iolani to five state championships and six runner-up finishes.
"I obviously have mixed feelings," said Barry, whose family remained on Oahu while he spent much of the school year in Oregon. "One, the program at Willamette is getting on the right track moving from an intramural philosophy to an intercollegiate sport. Two, the players fought me all the way, but are slowly coming around. Three, my recruiting class looks solid and finally, this is a great place to work."
He also changed future Willamette schedules to all Division III opponents, eliminating NAIA schools.
Barry said that working with a Division I program and coming home to Hawaii were his main reasons for returning.
UH head coach Pinsoom Tenzing said the biggest thing Barry brings to the program is his experience.
"We've been bouncing ideas off each other. We want to take this program to one of national prominence and I will need Bob's ideas," said Tenzing.
Barry joins the staff June 1. He currently is completing recruiting at Willamette and returns to Hawaii next month.
He replaces assistant Wendy Miyashiro, who is waiting to find out what her appointment will be in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program. She will leave for Japan in August.
UH Athletics