By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor The abrupt resignation by Tiare Tuitama last week as the girls volleyball coach at La Salle had the local volleyball world buzzing. Some celebrated the move, while many others were shocked and angry. The reigning Pasadena Sports Now Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year chose not to discuss the departure […]
By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor
The abrupt resignation by Tiare Tuitama last week as the girls volleyball coach at La Salle had the local volleyball world buzzing.
Some celebrated the move, while many others were shocked and angry.
The reigning Pasadena Sports Now Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year chose not to discuss the departure in depth for this story. Instead, Tuitama will allow her success and resume to speak for itself.
Over the past seven years, La Salle was 171-52, which included an area-best two CIF championships (2012 and 2013).
The Lancers also had runner-up finishes in 2011 and 2017 and went to the CIF State Regional Finals this past season for the first time in school history.
La Salle’s postseason record under Coach Tui’s guidance is 21-9.
The Lancers also claimed five league championships in those seven years.
The case could easily be made that since 2011, girls volleyball at La Salle was the Lancers’ standard bearer for excellence in athletics, and its most consistent and successful program on campus.
Tuitama’s two CIF championships are more than all the other high schools in Pasadena and La Canada combined over the past seven seasons.
And despite her status as being the architect of the area’s most successful volleyball program since she arrived in Pasadena in 2011, she chose to rise above the social media firestorm that has erupted online since her announcement.
A number of area coaches, La Salle volleyball parents and athletes past and present reached out to us in frustration to express their displeasure with the change in direction.
They each stated their contention that Tuitama was forced out because of a rocky relationship she had with a few parents over the past couple years.
La Salle principal Courtney Kassakhian sent us the following statement:
“While it is not unheard of that one coach would manage both men’s and women’s programs, Coach Tuitama does so while also managing a teaching load here at La Salle and coaching a club volleyball team. Managing all of these various responsibilities at the same time has made it difficult for her to accomplish some of her personal goals. We would rather have Coach Tuitama concentrate on a more manageable set of responsibilities than to have her talent fragmented among a variety of programs. She has built the women’s program into a highly successful enterprise and it just makes sense to give her the opportunity to focus on the men’s program at this time.”
La Salle assistant volleyball coach Stephen Bernabe, who led Mayfield in 2016, voiced his first-hand frustrations about Tuitama’s departure, but also addressed the pressures of being a high school coach in general.
“When Coach Tui told me that she had decided to step down from the girls program and focus on the boys program and continuing as a teacher, my initial feeling was that of being bummed out because of the success and her elevating of the program,” Bernabe said. “But once the sadness had passed, I was happy to hear she was willing to see what else was out there.”
Tuitama acknowledged she’s made mistakes that she wishes she could have back, but that she’s learned from the setbacks.
She also realizes that her old-school, intense approach isn’t what every parent or player desires from a leader.
But despite the many bumps along the way, the success, the relationships built and the opportunity she had to try and make a difference in student-athletes’ lives was how she’ll remember her time at La Salle.
She’ll lead the boys volleyball program at the school for now, but those within the volleyball community expect doors to open quickly for a coach of her stature.
And while a number of volleyball parents, players and area coaches expressed to us their frustration and anger as to how Tuitama’s reign ended, the former La Salle coach herself is looking forward and described her time at La Salle as follows:
Said Tuitama “It’s been a very successful 7 years at la Salle and very humbling experience, I have been blessed and very honored to be apart of such an amazing women’s program. I have made unforgettable memories and long lasting friendships that will last a lifetime for that I am truly grateful. I’ve gotten a lot of shout-outs from past and current players and family’s who I have had the honor to coach, and it’s very rewarding to know that I’ve had such a positive impact in their volleyball world and life. Volleyball has been and always will be my passion. I’m excited to continue coaching the Men’s Varsity Volleyball team at La Salle and look forward to new adventures in the future.”
Quotable:
La Salle athletic director Anthony Harris: “She has been terrific and the program achieved championship status while soaring to new heights under her guidance. She did exactly what I thought she would when I hired her back in 2011. Her successor will have their hands full as it relates to sustain the success established by Tiare. Her seven seasons as the girls volleyball coach have been a pleasure to watch and I wish her nothing but the best moving forward.”
La Salle senior Tori Ashkinos: “Tui is an amazing coach and mentor. I love her and wish her the best in all of her endeavors. I know Tui will be successful in any program she coaches. She molds players, makes them stronger and better athletes. She also genuinely cares about each one of her players and students, and has personally been one of my favorite coaches to play under. She has made me a stronger woman off and on the court and I can never thank her enough. I am happy that she is able to leave this position and move on to bigger and better things.”
La Salle senior Sophie Anderson: “(Coach) Tui led the La Salle girls volleyball program to two consecutive CIF titles in 2012 and 2013 before I came in as a freshman. This program was something I aspired to be a part of and I had tremendous respect for the coach that led them to these titles. Eventually, my senior year, Tui led our team to the CIF Division 3 finals and state finals. Tui was the leading contributor to the success of this program because of her ability to keep the ego’s of talented players in check while continuing their growth as a player. Tui showed me how a dignified young woman is supposed to conduct herself in the face of hostile adversity. I’m so thankful that I was able to be coached by her for the last four years.”
Former La Salle player Ravin Rhodes: “It breaks my heart that Tui resigned as head coach. of the La Salle girls volleyball program. Tui has made a huge impact on this program and is one of La Salle’s best. I wish girls would just go out and play and not worry about distractions. I wish the best for the program and the remaining girls.”
Former Westridge coach Otto Lacayo: “It can be really difficult to be successful at this level if you don’t feel you have the complete support of those in charge. I was lucky to have that at Westridge. Coach Tui has done a remarkable job not only leading La Salle over the last seven years, but also in the face of adversity. She’ll be a very attractive hire for any program because of her success and resume. I do feel bad for the incoming girls at La Salle, because they’ll never get the chance to play and learn from her. I wish she’d come out to New York and coach for us (Brooklyn Elite Academy).”
FSHA coach Trent Tcheng: “When I heard from Tui about her stepping down from coaching the girls program, I was honestly sad. For as long as I have been in volleyball, I have known Tui as the head coach at La Salle. Tui helped elevate the program into arguably the best program in the area. When she told me why she was stepping away, I was no longer sad, but more excited for the opportunities that lay ahead for her.
“I know Tui had some hard times at La Salle and I feel like i need comment on that, but I also feel like the problems she experienced at La Salle you can see every area coach having to deal with. Coaching in high school is a rewarding experience for us coaches. We get to build relationships with players and see how they mature from the time they are freshmen to when the graduate. Most people think that we only care about the wins and losses. I know from a competitor perspective it sucks to lose, but from a teaching perspective it’s one of the best feelings in the world to see your players grow and learn even when they lose. I honestly believe Tui is one of the best teachers of the game in the area.”
