In what turned out to be her penultimate game as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Panita Thanatharn was getting a glimpse of her future.
The University of Hawai‘i and Long Beach State were pitted against each other in the inaugural round of the Big West Tournament on May 7, a game the Rainbow Wahine won 10-8. Both teams eventually had their 2025 seasons end in the double-elimination tournament.
With longtime Hawai‘i coach Bob Coolen set to retire following the season after 34 years at the helm, interviews for his replacement were already underway at the time. Although Coolen endorsed assistant coach Dee Wisneski for the job following his final game, Thanatharn ended up being the choice for UH acting athletics director Lois Manin.
Thanatharn was named the new Hawai‘i head coach on Wednesday after 16 seasons at Long Beach State, the same school where she was a player from 2002 to 2007. Although she's never lived in the Islands, her familiarity with the Rainbow Wahine comes from coaching against them annually ever since the 'Bows joined the Big West Conference prior to the 2013 season.
"A lot of respect for Hawai‘i. Very familiar with the conference and going out there every other year and just a lot of respect for Hawaii and the university and the team, and so it was a opportunity that I just couldn't pass up," Thanatharn said. "So, super excited, and I can't wait to get there and bring that winning culture and tradition back, and I know it could do big things, and it's supported very well, so I just can't wait to get there."
The daughter of Thai immigrants, Thanatharn, 42, has lived most of her life in California, with the exception of a two-year stint at UNLV from 2009 to 2010. Born in Downey, Thanatharn was raised in Whittier and Chino Hills. Although her father was familiar with soccer but not baseball, Thanatharn was surrounded by baseball as a child and was handed down a right-handed glove from her brother. She began to throw with her right hand even though she writes with her left hand.
During her childhood, Thanatharn also competed in swimming and water polo, which she believes supplemented her athletic abilities.
After eventually transitioning from baseball to softball, Thanatharn stood out on the diamond and eventually made her way to Long Beach State. A devastating leg injury during her sophomore year sidelined her for multiple seasons, and she estimates she's had "seven or eight" surgeries. Despite not being able to play, Thanatharn was able to remain around the program. It is there that she developed her passion for collegiate coaching.
Thanatharn played and coached under Kim Sowder, who like Coolen, retired following the 2025 season.
"No timing is good timing for anything sometimes. My goal has always been to be a head coach. I wasn't going to just be a head coach, or apply to every school across the country just to have that head coaching title," Thanatharn said. "A little bit younger my career, I kind of did that. I was like, 'I'm gonna go.' Then I was like, hold on, you're still pretty young. You don't know everything yet. Let's just learn from my mentors and stay put.
"I obviously think (Sowder) is a great, great coach, but more than anything, a great person as a player, a coworker, a friend, and I'm going to do a lot of things that I've learned from her and bring that over here."
Thanatharn has spent time recruiting in her hometown of Chino Hills, a place she considers a recruiting hotbed. At Hawai‘i, she also intends to convince the state's best players to stay home.
"If you could keep your best kids at home, that's what you want to do," Thanatharn said. "Have them represent your community and your state with a lot of pride, and there's just something different about your home school, and I'm going to try to keep them home as best as I can."
When the Rainbow Wahine take the field in 2026, it'll be their last year in the Mountain West Conference. But a new era will already be underway with Thanatharn coaching the Rainbow Wahine.
"A lot of respect. A job like this doesn't come up very often. This has been 30 something years. So, definitely going to continue to build on what Bob has done and just continue to elevate it and make it a the best experience I can for the student-athletes," Thanatharn said.
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
