Assistant coach Aaron Wilton said he is likely to leave the program if he is accepted into graduate school at Sacramento State.

"It's something I'm considering," said Wilton, who applied last month and was told a decision would take up to eight weeks.

Wilton, a former All-America outside hitter at UH, earned a bachelor's degree in 1997. He served as a graduate assistant and then part-time assistant until earning a full-time coaching job during the 2002-2003 academic year.

Wilton said he needs to earn a master's degree to enhance his chances of landing a job as a college head coach.

He said Sacramento State's kinesiology program offers a concentration of sports performance. Wilton, who is interested in sports psychology, said: "I've had a lot of applied knowledge of sports. I'd like some theoretical background."

UH head coach Mike Wilton said if his son were to leave, "I would miss him. He's a very good coach. He's ready to become a head coach, and I'm not saying that just because he's my son. He's done a wonderful job."

Student assistant coach Jake Muise is expected to graduate next month and will not return to the UH program next season.

"He has a bunch of options to pursue," Mike Wilton said.

AARON WILTON

Wilton said the U.S. National team is interested in hiring UH video coordinator Radford Nakamura. Nakamura said it is too early to comment on his situation.

"I'm beginning to feel like the last leaf on the tree," Mike Wilton said.

Wilton's three-year contract expires May 31. He said he is seeking a new contract. "We'll see about that," Wilton said.

Outside hitter Pedro Azenha and backup setter Daniel Rasay completed their NCAA eligibility at the end of Saturday's playoff loss to Long Beach State.

Sean Carney, who was named The Advertiser's Player of the Year as an Iolani School senior two years ago, will compete with setter Brian Beckwith next season.

Jake Schkud, a backup outside hitter, could emerge as Azenha's successor. If Schkud, who is a decent passer, develops, then the other outside hitter, Matt Bender, could move back to opposite hitter. In most offenses, the opposite hitter is the most prolific attacker.

"Jake can be a real nice player," Wilton said. "It depends on what he does this summer."

Schkud and Beckwith are scheduled to play for the Junior National team this summer.

Wilton said he is recruiting another outside hitter/primary passer.

UH returns middle blockers Dionisio Dante, Kyle Klinger and Mauli'a LaBarre. Matthew Rawson, a 6-foot-8 middle blocker from Los Angeles, signed with UH in December.

Delano Thomas, an All-America middle blocker in 2003, is playing with the national team and won't be back. He did not earn enough credits to be eligible to play for the Warriors this season.

Wilton said he is considering playing exhibition matches at Penn State or in British Columbia in the fall.

He also might invite UCLA to play in the Outrigger Invitational next January. UCLA played in the first eight Outrigger tournaments, but was not invited to the past three.