Mike Sealy's next match at the Stan Sheriff Center will be as head coach of UCLA.

Hawai'i's associate coach the past four years was named the Bruins' head coach yesterday. Sealy was an All-American setter for UCLA and an assistant for both the men's and women's teams before coming to Hawai'i. He starts March 1.

He is only the second head women's volleyball coach in program history. Sealy replaces former head coach Andy Banachowski, the NCAA Division I alltime wins leader. Banachowski retired last month after 43 seasons at UCLA.

The Bruins open their season here Aug. 27. Rainbow Wahine head coach Dave Shoji, now the winningest active coach in his sport, is not sure what UCLA's new look will be, only that it will be good.

"I knew Mike was head coach material after he was here a couple years," Shoji said. "I don't think anybody can predict what his team will look like. He will have his own style, but he's not changing his personality to be head coach. He's kind of a laid-back, quiet guy, but he has a passion for the game. We'll see, how that comes out when makes all the decisions."

Sealy was in charge of scouting, film, recruiting and providing technical training in practices. "He has a great ability to take our weaknesses and hide them and exploit the other team's weaknesses," Shoji said.

Shoji leaves for the Mainland today and will recruit with Kari Ambrozich, his other associate coach. He hopes to have Sealy's position posted while he is gone so he can hire "as soon as possible" after he returns.

Since Sealy arrived in Mānoa, the Rainbow Wahine have been to one final four and two regional finals.

"I would like to first and foremost thank Dave for giving me the opportunity to coach at the University of Hawai'i," Sealy said. "Without the experience I've gained at UH, I would not be in a position to be able to move on to head coaching.

"This has been an amazing chapter in my life, and I am very saddened for it to come to a close for now. Hawai'i will always be a home for me and I look forward to any and every opportunity to come back."