University of Hawai’i Athletics Director Matt Elliott announced on Tuesday the appointment of Khalilah Mitchell as the ninth head coach of the Rainbow Wahine basketball program.
Mitchell, an integral figure in UH’s ascent to Big West prominence over seven seasons as an assistant coach, succeeds Laura Beeman, who announced her retirement on March 30 to cap a 14-year tenure as head coach.
Mitchell will be formally introduced as head coach at a press conference on Wednesday, April 22 at 9:00 a.m. in the Ed Wong Hospitality Room in Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
Mitchell agreed to an initial three-year term with UH and her promotion marks the start of a new era for Rainbow Wahine basketball in dual facets. UH will join the Mountain West as a full member effective July 1 while welcoming new leadership atop the women’s basketball program.
“After an extensive search that drew interest from across the country, it became clear that the best leader for our program was already right here in Mānoa,” Elliott said. “Khalilah Mitchell embodies everything we look for in a head coach: integrity, a relentless work ethic, and a deep-seated passion for the student-athletes. She has played an instrumental role in our championship culture, and demonstrated that she is ready to be our head coach. I am confident she is the right person to lead the Rainbow Wahine into this next chapter.”
Mitchell first joined the UH coaching staff in 2018 and helped guide the Rainbow Wahine to four postseason appearances and three Big West regular-season championships. The ‘Bows went 124-81 during her tenure as an assistant and posted at least 20 wins in each of her last four seasons with the program.
“Khalilah Mitchell is a proven leader with a strong commitment to player development and a deep understanding of the Rainbow Wahine program,” University of Hawai’i president Wendy Hensel said. “As an integral part of our recent success, she brings continuity, credibility and a clear vision for the future. We’re confident she will build on the foundation established by Coach Beeman and continue to elevate our student-athletes on and off the court.”
Mitchell has focused on player development during her UH career and her hiring provides continuity for the program and familiarity for a Rainbow Wahine roster coming off a 22-11 season in 2025-26. Her steadying presence on the bench and in the locker room helped the ‘Bows recover from a 6-9 start to go on a 16-1 surge on their way to the Big West Championship final.
Mitchell has played a key role in the development of some of the most prominent and prolific players in program history. Among them were Big West Player of the Year honorees Amy Atwell and Lily Wahinekapu, UH’s career three-point leader MeiLani McBee and three-time all-conference players Daejah Phillips and Imani Perez.
Mitchell’s elevation to head coach comes on the heels of her selection to the prestigious 2026 WBCA Next Generation Institute, a program designed for elite assistant coaches identified as the future leaders of the sport.
“I am incredibly honored and humbled to be named the head coach of the University of Hawai’i women’s basketball program,” Mitchell said. “I want to thank Matt Elliott for his trust in me. Hawai’i has become my home, and these student-athletes are my family. Coach Beeman set a standard of excellence here that is unmatched, and I am eager to build upon that foundation. Our goal remains the same, to compete for championships and represent this state and this university with pride.”
A graduate of LSU, Mitchell was a part of five Final Four teams with the Tigers from 2004 to ’08, including a redshirt year due to injury. She began her coaching career in 2009 as a graduate assistant at Central Florida and was elevated to assistant coach in 2011. She arrived at UH in 2018 and helped the ‘Bows place second in the Big West and earn a WNIT bid in her first season with the program. She helped UH capture both the conference regular-season and tournament titles for the first time in program history in the 2021-22 season, then spent 2022-23 as an assistant at San Jose State. She returned to Mānoa the following season and helped guide the team to two more regular-season titles and back-to-back berths in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament.
“What a perfect hire for the University of Hawai’i,” LSU associate head coach Bob Starkey said. “Khalilah has a deep love for that community and understands their great traditions. More importantly, she is an excellent coach and teacher who genuinely cares about her student-athletes. I have known Khalilah for over 20 years, including coaching her at LSU. She has a contagious enthusiasm and a desire to lead which will guide the Rainbow Wahine to levels of excellence on and off the court.”
Mitchell takes the reins of the Rainbow Wahine program after Beeman went 244-180 over her 14 seasons as head coach. Beeman led the ‘Bows to nine postseason appearances, four Big West regular-season titles and three conference tournament championships
“There is no one more prepared for this moment than Khalilah Mitchell,” Beeman said. “She has been an intricate part to the successes of our program and her basketball IQ is only surpassed by her ability to connect with young women. I am stepping away knowing the program is in the best possible hands. I can’t wait to sit in the stands of the Stan Sheriff Center and cheer on Coach Mitchell and this team.”
