After 11 years and four final fours with the Rainbow Wahine, the voice mail message is jarring: "This is Charlie Wade with Pacific women's volleyball."

Say what?

Wade officially became the UOP head coach Feb. 1, closing a compelling chapter in Hawai'i volleyball history. He started as Dave Shoji's assistant in 1995 and has been associate coach the past six years.

The 'Bows worked their way back to the final four in 1996 after a frustrating eight-year absence. It was a monstrous void for a program with four national championships and ultimate expectations all of its 30 years.

They returned to three more final fours during the "Kim and Lily Era" (Willoughby and Kahumoku), between 2000 and 2003 without advancing to the championship.

Hawai'i is still looking for that fifth title. Now, Shoji is also looking for an assistant to replace Wade. There is no shortage of applicants. Shoji puts the quantity in the "dozens" and the quality shockingly high.

"I've told everybody that has called that I won't stand in the way of them turning around and becoming a head coach," Shoji said. "But to tell the truth, I've been getting as much interest from people who are already Division I head coaches. Their motivation is a little different. They all would like to live here, but mostly they just want a higher level than where they are at."

Among those interested in the position, according to Shoji, are head coaches Burt Fuller (Utah State), Wade Benson (Eastern Washington), Reed Sunahara (Cincinnati) and Scott Swanson (UTEP), who accepted an assistant's job at Minnesota last week. Sunahara is a Hilo High graduate. Fuller was in Wade's wedding party.

Clearly, Wade helped Hawai'i stay at the level that attracts head coaches to an assistant position. Initially, he brought a refreshing passion and energy to the gym. He has the ability to train athletes into All-Americans, with Olympian Heather Bown one of the program's most successful projects.

He also had the energy and connections to seek and interest prospective recruits from the usual and most unusual — Napoleonville, La., in Willoughby's case — areas. He could sit for hours judging talent and potential at a club tournament, then drive through miles of bayous to seal the deal.

Shoji will give assistant coach Kari Ambrozich more responsibility in the future and also look to replace the qualities that made Wade so valuable.

"We're looking for somebody who is really good in the gym and can challenge the girls — has enough knowledge for the girls to get their attention," Shoji said. "They need to have respect for this person, but we also need someone who is compassionate and play the roll of the nice assistant. The head coach has to make the tough decisions so someone has got to be there for everybody besides Kari."

The only changes, Shoji said, should be too subtle to notice. What he does not want is someone with an "agenda."

"I don't want someone with the No. 1 thing being his own advancement," said Shoji, 59. "We need a genuine person who comes here for the program and what they can do for us more than what we can do for them.

"I start every phone interview by saying you shouldn't come here motivated to become the head coach here. That's the reason I advised Charlie to go and become a head coach. I didn't think he was an automatic replacement for me if he stayed. There's no guarantee of any assistant becoming head coach. It's not my decision and there will be a lot of people interested in this job."

Many were interested in the position at Pacific, a school with great volleyball history, exceptional academics and facilities, supportive administration and built-in fan base. Wade and wife Tani are expecting their second child in July, making the move to a more lucrative position even more attractive.

"My initial interest was because of the tradition and the fact that volleyball is important at that school and in that community," Wade said. "Living and working in a place where volleyball is important ... it's nice to find another opportunity like that. I don't think that's the case everywhere."

Wade finished Hawai'i's 2006 recruiting more than a year ago. One of the first things he did at UOP was leave for Europe to help supplement the Tigers' current roster. His goal this first season is to challenge for the Big West championship, then work the program's way back into the national championship picture.

Wade started his coaching career with the Magnum Club, sending players such as Bown, Jessica Sudduth, Sarah Chase, Kristal Attwood and Kee Williams to Manoa. He assisted at Cal State-Fullerton while finishing his degree and founded the Southern California Volleyball Institute in 1993.

Then he popped up in paradise. "Initially," Wade said, "I was the right guy at the right time with the right personality to infuse some energy and passion into the practice gym."

By the end, his impact on recruiting might have become more compelling. He believes he has helped mold a "collection of physical talent that makes this a perennial top 10 team."

"The very best teams like Hawai'i go 10 to 12 deep," Wade said. "Last year we had 18 on the roster and 15 were legitimate DI players. That will have the longest impact."

Now, he and his family are coping with the move and being away from friends and family of the last dozen years for Wade and a lifetime for his wife, who is a Kaiser High graduate. They also have a big decision to make, at least in Wade's world.

"I get my choice," the golf-mad Wade said. "Brookside or Elkhorn Country Club."

NOTES

Charlie Wade's position, which could be revised, must be posted 11 days before UH can start the hiring process. Coach Dave Shoji expects to start looking at serious applicants next week.

Spring practice will start in March. The Rainbow Wahine have tentatively scheduled a spring exhibition with Wisconsin for March 15. Their 2006 season tentatively opens Aug. 25 and 26 against Pepperdine.

Elise Duggins, the little sister of former Hawai'i All-American Lauren Duggins, is enrolled at UH after transferring from Long Beach State. She is a defensive specialist.