Daisha Paulino returns for her second season as head coach of the Hawai'i Pacific University acrobatics and tumbling program after being named to the role on August 19, 2024.
In her first season at the helm, Paulino guided Hawai'i Pacific to a 4-2 record in 2025-26, capped by an appearance at the NCATA Event Finals in Azusa, California. The Sharks opened the year with a road win at Kutztown before sweeping a tri-meet against Caldwell and LIU in Brooklyn, N.Y. HPU's signature win of the season came on the road against Azusa Pacific, 256.150-243.110, before the Sharks closed the regular season with narrow home losses to Azusa Pacific and Oregon.
Before assuming the head coaching role, Paulino served as the assistant coach for two seasons at the University of Oregon from 2021 to 2023, as well as at Hawaii Pacific University from 2018 to 2020.
During Paulino’s second season on staff, Oregon returned to the NCATA National Championship finals for the first time since 2019 with a record of 6-3. The Ducks earned three ranked victories in regular season action over Azusa Pacific (twice) and Gannon. Paulino helped coach several Ducks to accolades, including All-American recognition for Karly Nowak and Makena Carrion, individual event titles in the trio tumbling and six-element passes, and Nowak earning the 14th NCATA Athlete of the Week honor in program history.
In her first season with the program, Paulino helped lead the Ducks to the NCATA Quarterfinals. Oregon finished with a 2-5 record against a loaded schedule that featured four teams in the NCATA Championships field and five top-ten opponents. The Ducks picked up wins over No. 2 Azusa Pacific and No. 5 Hawaii Pacific. Paulino helped coach Blessyn McMorris to NCATA Freshman of the Year honors, while Alyssa Hew was named to the NCATA All-America team.
As a student-athlete, Paulino competed as a top and tumbler for Hawaii Pacific, earning All-American honors in 2017 and 2018. She also led the Sharks to the NCATA Quarterfinals in both seasons.
Paulino, a native of Makakilo, HI, earned her Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education from Hawaii Pacific in 2018. She received her Master of Arts in Coaching and Athletics Administration from Concordia University-Irvine in 2021
