Former Long Beach State associate HC Thanatharn tabbed new Hawai'i softball head coach

HONOLULU – There’s a new sheriff in town.

The University of Hawai’i at Mānoa acting athletics director Lois Manin announced on Wednesday that former Long Beach State associate head coach Panita Thanatharn has been tabbed as the next head coach of the Rainbow Wahine softball program. Thanatharn becomes the fourth head coach in program history and takes over after the retirement of legendary head coach Bob Coolen, who hung up the clipboard this past May after spending the last 34 years leading UH on the diamond.

“We are thrilled to welcome Panita to our athletics ‘Ohana,” Manin said in a statement released by the school. “She has a deep passion for the game and the competitive spirit to build a winning culture. We are confident that her integrity-based leadership and unmatched work ethic will inspire our student-athletes to grow on and off the field. She brings excitement to the future of our softball program.”  

Thanatharn enjoyed a solid playing career and was a four-year letterwinner (2022, 2005-07) at Long Beach State before joining the coaching staff as the program’s director of operations and an assistant directly after her days on the diamond. After two years at UNLV, she returned to the Beach and has spent the past 15 seasons helping LBSU become one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the Big West.

The player-turned-coach was elevated into LBSU’s associate head coaching spot in 2016 and has helped the Beach win a pair of Big West crowns in the years since then. The 18-year assistant coach has been a piece of nine different teams reaching the NCAA Regional round and has been a key contributor to developing the top 10 single-season team batting averages in Long Beach program history.

“I am so pumped and honored to be the Head Softball Coach at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa,” Thanatharn said in the release. “I’m grateful for the trust and confidence and I’m looking forward to the journey ahead! I can’t wait to meet the team and learn about them and their families … I’m ready to get to work and start building relationships and am committed to winning in the classroom, in the community, and on the field. Let’s go Bows!”

Thanatharn has served as LBSU’s primary recruiter and hitting coach while handling all administrative duties and the team’s conditioning program. The veteran assistant coach helped bring in and develop 16 all-region players, two All-Americans, three Big West Freshman of the Year winners and a Big West Player of the Year honoree in her time with the Beach, showing an above-average ability to connect with players.

Long Beach State did not finish below fourth place in Big West Conference play during Thanatharn tenure with the program.