It was quite a curveball the universe threw Mike Sealy.

He was content to call the islands home, working for one of the premier women's volleyball programs in the country in Hawaii, and helping secure commitments from top athletes to ensure the Rainbow Wahine would sustain their success for the next few years.

Then that pitch. The head coaching job at his alma mater.

Sealy connected yesterday, becoming just the second coach for the Bruins. After four seasons as one of Hawaii's associate coaches, the 39-year-old Sealy will replace Andy Banachowski, who announced his retirement Jan. 13 after 43 seasons and 1,106 victories, the most in NCAA women's volleyball.

“;I wouldn't have applied for any other job,”; Sealy said. “;It was a tough decision. People who are outside my circle have said that it was a natural thing for me to go home. No, this (Hawaii) is my home.

“;The quote that is going through my head right now is, 'If you want to make the universe laugh, just tell it what your plans are.' The universe has its own mind, it's own direction. It's pretty surreal right now.”;

Sealy had turned down job offers before, the most recent last December when he was contacted by Loyola Marymount. He said the day Banachowski retired, he received a text message from him saying, “;Dust off your resume.”;

UCLA originally offered the position to current U.S. national team coach Hugh McCutcheon, who turned it down. The search was reopened with Sealy emerging as one of the leading candidates early.

Sealy said he interviewed Friday in Los Angeles and was contacted Monday by UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero. The school made it official yesterday morning.

“;I didn't feel like he could turn down this opportunity,”; Wahine coach Dave Shoji said. “;It's his alma mater, he played there. I think it would be a dream job for him and a lot of other people.

“;I'm hoping he'll have a long tenure there. It's a daunting task, but I think he'll be up for it.”;

Shoji said the process to replace Sealy will begin with the position being advertised. He hopes to have someone in place by March 1, coincidentally the same day Sealy takes over at UCLA.

Sealy is no stranger to Bruins athletics. He was a three-time All-American setter, ranking fourth in career assists (4,749). His teams went 80-24 in his four years, 24-3 in his senior season when he was the captain of the 1993 NCAA title team.

Following a pro career and a stint with the U.S. national team, Sealy was an assistant with the UCLA men's team from 2003 to '06 and also an assistant for the women's team in 2005.

Sealy joined the Hawaii staff in 2006 and had been in charge of recruiting, scouting, breaking down film and providing technical training. The Wahine were 119-19 in his four years, with four conference titles and a final four appearance last December.

“;It's obvious that we've had great game plans and he did a lot to upgrade our preparation,”; Shoji said. “;When UCLA opened it up a few weeks ago ... I didn't see anyone ahead of him.”;

Sealy makes his had coaching debut in Hawaii when UCLA competes in the season-opening tournament the last weekend in August at the Stan Sheriff Center with Kansas State and San Diego.

Note

Hawaii's spring game will be against Arizona March 18 at the Sheriff Center.