HONOLULU — The Hawaii Pacific University women’s basketball program, which has dominated in NCAA Division II in recent seasons, is reeling amid the sudden absence of its decorated head coach and multiple players, including its All-American star.
Coach Reid Takatsuka has been missing from all five games that have taken place in December — all losses for the shorthanded Sharks. On Friday, HPU issued a statement on the coaching situation.
“HPU Women’s Basketball Coach Reid Takatsuka is currently on leave, pending an investigation into issues relating to athletes’ well-being,” the statement read. “Head Men’s Basketball Coach Darren Vorderbruegge, who has been with HPU athletics for 15 years, is serving as interim women’s basketball coach.”
On Thursday, minus conspicuously absent leading scorers Amy Baum and Tavia Rowell, HPU saw its losing streak extended with a 60-47 defeat to Concord in the Malika Sports Oahu Christmas Classic at HPU’s “Shark Tank,” the former St. Francis School gym.
It was a stunning contrast from March, when the Sharks attained an unprecedented 38-game winning streak with Baum leading the way to a third straight conference title.
Takatsuka’s five-game absence was not believed to be COVID-related, and it is unclear if he will return. Meanwhile, a source told Spectrum News on Thursday that Baum has entered the NCAA transfer portal.
Baum, a versatile playmaker from Melbourne who was picked in the preseason to take the conference’s top individual honor a third straight time, recorded a triple-double as recently as Nov. 24 against Black Hills State, the third of her career.
The second-leading assist dealer in PacWest history was a huge reason why the Sharks achieved a record of 29-1 in 2019-20 and were on the cusp of hosting an NCAA regional in 2020 before the threat of the coronavirus forced the shutdown of the postseason. They followed that up by going 13-1 in the abbreviated 2020-21 season, including a win over Division I Hawaii.
The 2021-22 season started in customary fashion for the Sharks as they won four of their first six games, with one of the losses coming against No. 2 Lubbock Christian.
But something changed in early December.
Baum last appeared on Dec. 7, a 66-52 defeat to Division I Loyola Marymount in an exhibition game, and Rowell last played on Dec. 12, a 73-50 loss to Hawaii Hilo. Takatsuka last coached on Nov. 29 against Concordia Irvine, a 69-64 win.
Takatsuka, HPU’s coach since 2011, is a five-time PacWest Coach of the Year, including last season, and was a finalist for WBCA Coach of the Year. Specializing in an up-tempo style of play, the Kaneohe native has achieved no fewer than 17 wins in any full-length season with the Sharks.
Takatsuka was still listed as the team’s head coach on the HPU website as of Thursday evening.
Athletic director Debbie Snell watched Thursday’s game from behind the Sharks’ bench. Snell, who became athletic director in May, declined to comment to Spectrum News at the game about recent events with the program. Asked if Vorderbruegge is the acting head coach going forward, she said it had not been determined. She again declined to comment on Takatsuka’s status.
Takatsuka’s assistant coaches have disappeared from the bench; Vorderbruegge has been helped by members of his men’s staff and miscellaneous HPU personnel. Nine players were suited up to play Thursday.
“You know, our athletic director just told me we needed some help, and I don’t know any more than that,” Vorderbruegge told Spectrum News. “In today’s day and age, privacy matters, and I don’t think I want to know any more at this point. So, I’m helping out, interim [status], and that’s all I know.”
So far, he’s had one instance of having to coach both the men’s and women’s teams in the same day; there was a 25-minute window in between. He said he’s just trying to make it to Christmas, when the schedule opens up.
“If Coach Reid would come back, that would be great,” Vorderbruegge said. “I’m hoping for that, because he’s a good guy, a longtime friend and a great coach.”
He said some of the HPU women's player absences had to do with injuries and illnesses. He credited the active players for playing hard and together amid adversity.
Since a 73-50 loss to Hawaii Hilo on Dec. 12, starters Julia Razo and Makaela Zeldenryk also disappeared from HPU's box scores.
“Young people in general, I’m continually amazed at how resilient they are,” Vorderbruegge said. “I think we adults can take things too serious and get too caught up in it. They’re going to be OK. They need a break. They just want some stability. Right now there’s a transition going on.”
Players were not made available for comment by HPU staff after the game.
Takatsuka entered the 2021-22 season with a winning percentage of .763 (209-65) over 10 seasons.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The original story was updated to include a statement from Hawaii Pacific University. (Dec. 17, 2021)