The winningest active collegiate basketball coach in the state of Hawai‘i, Reid Takatsuka is quietly becoming a legend.
Takatsuka enters his 11th season as the head coach of the Hawai‘i Pacific women’s basketball program in 2021-22 with a record of 209-65 (.763), and is second only to University of Hawai‘i legend Vince Goo (334-116, 17 years) on the state’s all-time women’s basketball winning list.
The Sharks recorded an undefeated regular season in the COVID shortened 2020-21 campaign, stretching their winning streak to 38 games before falling in the NCAA Tournament to finish the year with a 13-1 record. Takatsuka was honored with his fifth PacWest Conference Coach of the Year nod in his 10 seasons and was a finalist for the WBCA Coach of the Year. The Sharks were ranked as high as No. 2 in the D2SIDA poll and No. 4 in the WBCA Division II poll.
The Sharks posted a school record 29-1 record in 2019-20 when the COVID-19 Pandemic halted the season on the eve of HPU hosting the NCAA II West Regional at The Shark Tank after claiming a record fourth PacWest Conference Coach of the Year title. The 29 wins is second to the 30 wins of the HPU men’s 1993 National Championship season, and the one loss is the fewest between either men’s or women’s program.
In his 10 seasons at the helm of the HPU women’s program, the Kaneohe native has posted no fewer than 17 wins in a full season (13 wins in 13 regular season in COVID 2020-21), with five 20-plus win seasons (29 in 2019-20, 26 in 2017-18, 25 in 2014-15, 23 in 2018-19 and 21 in 2016-17). The five-time PacWest Coach of the Year (2013, 2015, 2018, 2020 and 2021) has won three PacWest Conference Championships (2015, 2018 and 2020), one PacWest Hawai‘i Pod Championship (2021), four PacWest Tournament Championships (2015, 2018, 2019 and 2020) and has led the Sharks to the NCAA Division II Tournament in six times in the last seven seasons (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021).
“Coach Reid” has developed elite talent during his time with HPU. Guard Amy Baum became the first Shark named a First Team All-American, along with being selected the PacWest Player of the Year and West Region Player of the Year all in 2020. Baum and guard Olivia West were both named to All-America teams in 2021. Baum joined Morganne Comstock who earned second team All-America, PacWest and West Region Player of the Year in 2015. Starr Rivera was also named as an All-American and All-Region performer in 2020. Heidi Anton, Takatsuka’s former point guard, went on to play professionally in Denmark and led SISU Copenhagen to the championship.
The 2019-20 season was one of a lifetime for the Sharks, who missed having a perfect record on a layup with 0.7 seconds left in November. HPU did post the third undefeated season in PacWest history with the most wins at 22-0 (California Baptist 20-0 in 2016-17 and Grand Canyon 15-0 in 2006-07), the conference’s best winning percentage (.967) and record for fewest losses with one. In addition to Baum and Rivera on the All-PacWest first team, Abbey Noblett was named second team, Alysha Marcucci the third team and Ally Bates the Newcomer of the Year and an honorable mention for five Sharks on the squad. HPU rolled off a 25-game winning streak (the longest in school history for men or women) that was stopped by the virus, leading to a No. 3 national ranking and the No. 1 regional ranking.
While injuries nagged at the 2018-19 Sharks, HPU rolled up a 23-9 record. After tying for second in the league with a 18-4 mark, the Sharks won their second straight PacWest Tournament Championship and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. HPU placed four on the All-PacWest Team, led by senior Brianna Mackenzie on the first team and the trio of Freshman Of The Year Amy Baum, senior Samantha Lambrigtsen and sophomore Alysha Marcucci all on the third team.
The 2017-18 season was one of magic for HPU. The Sharks collected a 19-game winning streak, then the school’s longest basketball winning streak for either men or women, on the way to a school record 26 wins. The Sharks won both the PacWest Conference regular season title and the PacWest Conference Tournament (for the second time in four years). The Sharks were ranked for six consecutive polls in the WBCA Top 25, reaching as high as 19th before coming in 25th in the final poll following the NCAA Tournament. And HPU did this with just one First Team All-PacWest player, senior Jessi Reeves, while collecting three Third Team All-PacWest performers in junior Samantha Lambrigtsen, junior Janessa Manzano and freshman Alysha Marcucci.
HPU ranked 29th in Division II in scoring offense (76.0 points per game), despite not having a scorer with more than 12.3 points a game, led the PacWest in scoring defense (62.1 ppg) and ranked 22nd nationally in scoring margin (13.9 ppg). But the Sharks fourth trip to the NCAA Division II West Regional (as the number two seed) was short as the eventual regional champion Montana State-Billings avenged an earlier loss to HPU with a 76-65 win in the opening round.
HPU advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2016-17 with a 21-7 overall record, finishing second in the PacWest at 17-3. The Sharks rode their outstanding defense that allowed just 60.2 points a game and was second in the PacWest and 57th in Division II. HPU’s third trip to the West Regional saw the Sharks nearly topple the region’s top seed before falling 63-56 at second ranked Alaska Anchorage.
The Sharks recorded a tough 17-11 season in 2015-16, finishing fourth in the PacWest at 14-6 despite leading the league in scoring defense allowing just 60.7 points a game. Still the Sharks played close throughout the season.
In 2014-2015, Takatsuka put together the best season in school history to date and rewrote the record books. The 25-5 Sharks lead the nation in scoring average at 82.3 points per game. HPU dominated the PacWest with a record of 18-2, winning the PacWest Tournament. The Sharks advanced to the West Regional for the second time in school history and was ranked in the Top 25 for the first time. Also for the first time, HPU landed two players on the All-Region Team as Kylie Huerta and Comstock both got the call.
HPU was again exciting to watch in 2013-2014 as it compiled an 18-10 record, including 13-7 in PacWest games. Takatsuka added another postseason win to his resume with a 79-62 win over UH Hilo in the First Round of the PacWest Tournament. HPU was well thought of regionally with wins over #17 Northwest Nazarene and PacWest runner up Cal Baptist.
In 2012-2013, Takatsuka guided the HPU to a 19-7 record, earning the top seed in the Pacific West Tournament. The Sea Warriors went 14-4 in PacWest play finishing second in the PacWest, just a half-game out of first. HPU went streaking into the postseason with five consecutive wins to end the regular season, including four road games. In that stretch, HPU upended #19 Grand Canyon in Phoenix and got the first win in program history at Dixie State.
HPU then dropped Dixie State in the opening round of the PacWest Tournament. It was the first postseason win in program history, but HPU eventually fell in the conference championship game.
Takatsuka had a successful debut season in 2011-2012 setting the scoring record, three-point record, and three-point percentage record. He also coached HPU to the largest margin of victory and most points in a game during a 111-43 win over Dominican.
Hawai‘i Pacific finished 18-10 overall (12-6 in the PacWest) featuring a potent offense, finishing second in the league in scoring (74 PPG), first in field goal percentage (43%), first in three-point percentage (35%), first in assists (17.2 APG), and first in assist to turnover ratio (1.0). HPU also finished second in steals (10.8 SPG) and first in turnover margin (+4.61).
Before taking over as the head coach, Takatsuka spent three seasons as Jeff Harada’s top assistant at HPU. From 2008 to 2011 HPU went 50-29, winning the PacWest and advancing to the NCAA West Regional in 2009-2010.
Originally from Kaneohe, Hawai'i, Takatsuka graduated from Hawai‘i Baptist Academy (Honolulu) where he was a three-sport athlete, lettering in basketball, volleyball, and golf. He graduated from Cal Baptist University with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies.
Before joining the Sharks, he coached nine seasons at Hawai‘i Baptist, the last seven as the Head Girls Varsity Coach.
He is married, to his wife Claudine, and has two sons and a daughter.
TAKASUKA'S HPU RECORD
| YEAR |
RECORD (PacWest) |
POSTSEASON |
| 2011-12 |
18-10 (12-6) |
|
| 2012-13 |
19-7 (14-4) |
PacWest Finalist |
| 2013-14 |
18-10 (14-7) |
PacWest Semifinals |
| 2014-15 |
25-5 (18-2) |
PacWest Champions, PacWest Tournament Champions, NCAA West Region Quarterfinals |
| 2015-16 |
17-11 (14-6) |
PacWest Quarterfinals |
| 2016-17 |
21-7 (17-3) |
NCAA West Region Quarterfinals |
| 2017-18 |
26-4 (18-2) |
PacWest Champions, PacWest Tournament Champions, NCAA West Region Quarterfinals |
| 2018-19 |
23-9 (18-4) |
PacWest Tournament Champions, NCAA West Region Quarterfinals |
| 2019-20 |
29-1 (22-0) |
PacWest Champions, PacWest Tournament Champions, NCAA West Region Host |
| 2020-21 |
13-1 (12-0) |
COVID Season, PacWest Hawai‘i Champions, NCAA West Region Quarterfinals |
| Total |
209-65 (.763) (159-34) |
|
WINNINGEST COLLEGIATE COACHES IN HAWAI‘I
Prior to the 2020-21 Season
(records at Hawai‘i institutions only)
Women (min. 50 wins)
| Coach, School |
Record |
Seasons |
| Vince Goo, Hawai‘i |
334-166 |
17 |
| Reid Takasuka, Hawai‘i Pacific |
209-65 |
10 |
| Laura Beeman, Hawai‘i |
142-123 |
9 |
| David Kaneshiro, Hawai‘i Hilo |
104-155 |
11 |
| Jim Bolla, Hawai‘i |
64-80 |
5 |
| Jeff Harada, Hawai‘i Pacific |
58-48 |
4 |
| Bill Nepfel, Hawai‘i |
53-35 |
3 |
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