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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, December 8, 2009

HPU's Sellitto to step down


By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Tony Sellitto

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Hawai'i Pacific men's basketball coach Tony Sellitto has announced his retirement after nearly 40 years of involvement at both the high school and collegiate level locally, effective at the end of this season.

"Coaching college basketball is the greatest job in the world," Sellitto said. "Coaching is in my blood and I love working with young people and helping them succeed as athletes and in life. However, due to personal reasons, I don't feel that I can do it any longer."

Sellitto, who returned to HPU last season after a six-year absence , is the winningest coach in school history and won the only national basketball championship in state history when the Sea Warriors captured the NAIA title in 1993. Sellitto, who was named National Coach of the Year that season, stepped down in 2002 due to health problems.

In his 15 years as head coach, HPU flourished with 12 winning seasons, including eight 20-win seasons and eight postseason appearances. Sellitto's career record of 307-153 gives him a .667 winning percentage. He was also athletic director at HPU for 14 years.

Prior to HPU, Sellitto spent 23 years at Maryknoll High School, where he posted a 374-71 record and won the 1984 boys state championship.

"Tony Sellitto has left an indelible mark on Hawai'i Pacific University," HPU President Chatt G. Wright said. "His success on the court combined with his relationships with players and the community are unparalleled in our state. We are grateful to him for defining how success is measured in Sea Warrior Athletics."

HPU is 3-2 this season and plays BYU-Hawai'i Friday at 5:30 p.m. at McCabe Gymnasium.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

WEDNESDAY

Loyola Marymount 91, Academy of Art 72

BYU-Hawai'i 94, Western Oregon 86

Cal State Maritime 69, Notre Dame de Namur 66

THURSDAY

HPU 72, La Verne 63

FRIDAY

Montana State-Billings 82, Dominican 54

BYU-Hawai'i 94, Central Washington 90

Grand Canyon 67, St. Martin's 58

Dixie State 75, Northwest Nazarene 67

Chaminade 71, La Verne 66

SATURDAY

Northwest Nazarene 76, Dominican 63

Dixie State 78, Montana State-Billings 75

Seattle Pacific 78, BYU-Hawai'i 72

Western Washington 67, Grand Canyon 50

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

TOMORROW

Chaminade at UH-Mänoa

FRIDAY

Grand Canyon at Alaska-Fairbanks

Dominican at Santa Clara

BYU-Hawai'i vs. HPU

UH-Hilo at Chaminade

SATURDAY

Simpson at Academy of Art

Grand Canyon vs. Alaska-Anchorage

Dixie State at Cal State Dominguez Hills

Notre Dame de Namur at San Francisco State

BYUH-HPU loser vs. UHH-Chaminade loser

BYUH-HPU winner vs. UHH-Chaminade winner

MONDAY

Champion Baptist at UH-Hilo

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

BYU-Hawai'i senior guard Mahina Gago has been named Pacific West Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week. Gago led BYU-Hawai'i to a 1-1 record last week. The Seasiders became the first PacWest women's basketball team to beat a Division I program when they defeated San Francisco, 69-61, behind Gago's 23 points and nine rebounds. She averaged 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

TUESDAY

Holy Names 69, Dominican 68

THURSDAY

St. Martin's 63, Academy of Art 53

Western Washington 80, UH-Hilo 46

FRIDAY

Grand Canyon 69, Seattle Pacific 55

Northwest Nazarene 85, Dixie State 70

UH-Mänoa 76, BYU-Hawai'i 46

SATURDAY

Seattle Pacific 59, Dixie State 46

Northwest Nazarene 73, Grand Canyon 66

BYU-Hawai'i 69, San Francisco 61

Central Washington 87, Academy of Art 55

St. Martin's 78, UH-Hilo 55

Dominican 73, Menlo 63

SUNDAY

St. Martin's 92, UH-Hilo 80 (OT)

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

TODAY

Dominican at Cal State Maritime

FRIDAY

Academy of Art at Holy Names

Grand Canyon vs. Alaska-Fairbanks

Notre Dame de Namur at Humboldt State

BYU-Hawai'i at Alaska-Anchorage

SATURDAY

Academy of Art at Cal State Los Angeles

Cal State Stanislaus vs. Notre Dame de Namur

BYU-Hawai'i vs. Alaska-Fairbanks

Dominican at San Francisco State

Grand Canyon at Alaska-Anchorage

MONDAY

Notre Dame de Namur at Sonoma State

COMMISSIONER'S CUP

Hawai'i Pacific leads the annual Pacific West Conference Commissioner's Cup standings after the Fall season. The Sea Warriors did not win any of the five PacWest championships, but got runner-up finishes from their men's soccer and women's cross country teams while the men's cross country, women's soccer and volleyball teams each finished third. Each school's total points are divided by the number of PacWest athletic programs it offers. HPU (7.3) is narrowly ahead of defending Commissioner's Cup winner BYU-Hawai'i (7.0). Dixie State (6.67), UH-Hilo (6.2) and Grand Canyon (5.7) round out the top five. The Vulcans won the inaugural Cup in 2008.