Wallin to Leave UHH Softball Program

University of Hawai`i at Hilo softball coach Jaime Wallin will step down at the end of June after four seasons at the helm of the competitive PacWest program.

The university announced the decision Tuesday. Wallin’s last day will be June 30.

“We very much appreciate the efforts that Jaime has made to promote the Vulcans brans through softball,” said UH-Hilo interim athletic director Tim Moore in a statement. “It’s always difficult to lose the contributions from a member of our team and in Jaime’s case, it would be her passionate competitive drive.”

Wallin was hired on June 24, 2010 by previous athletic director Dexter Irvin. In four seasons under Wallin, the Vulcans were 113-73 overall and 78-40 in the PacWest conference. UH-Hilo won a share of the PacWest conference championship in 2013.

Wallin isn’t leaving for another coaching job. Having grown up in New York, the veteran coach is taking on a new opportunity that, while not in New York, is a lot closer to home than Hawai`i is.

“The job opportunity that I have is in North Carolina and a close friend of mine moved down there a couple of years ago. It’s actually with her,” Wallin said. “I’m excited about that.”

Prior to her four years at UH-Hilo, Wallin was a head coach at Division I Lafayatte College for a year and at Sonoma State for four seasons. Her combined win-loss record as a head coach is 233-235.

When asked what she was most proud of during her time at UH-Hilo, Wallin cited the academic success of her players.

“I’m really proud of the job that, as a team, we did academically,” Wallin said. “Last year, that was the first year that the team had a cumulative GPA over a 3.0. Even last semester, we were over a 3.0. That’s probably the biggest accomplishment we’ve had, and then of course, we’ve had some success on the conference level and the regional level, too.”

Wallin notes that all of her seniors in the first three years graduated on time. This season, two will graduate this semester while two more will need a little more time because of their chosen major.

Pam Knox, the university’s Associate Athletic Director and Senior Women’s Administrator, will work with prospective softball athletes until a new coach is named.