HONOLULU – Chaminade University director of athletics
Bill Villa announced Monday the promotion of
Paul Shimomoto to head coach of the men's soccer program.
Shimomoto was an assistant during the 2019 season, helping the Silverswords to a 9-6 mark which was their second consecutive winning season, a first-ever in program history while setting another season record for most wins. Chaminade's 7-4 Pacific West Conference mark was also the most-ever and their fourth-place finish was the highest since becoming an intercollegiate program in 2006.
"I am humbled and grateful to be the new head coach of Chaminade men's soccer," Shimomoto said of becoming the eighth head coach of CUH men's soccer. "I am fortunate to be taking over a talented returning squad in a program that has been rising the past four years and I look forward in continuing that success.
"I am also humbled by the outpouring of support I received for my candidacy, from former and current players, to my coaching colleagues in Hawai'i, the mainland and overseas. I can't thank them enough for everything they have given and taught me over the years."
Shimomoto was the Director of Coaching (East) for the Hawai'i Rush Soccer Club and is the founder of the Honolulu Galaxy Futbol Club. He also coached at Iolani School for nearly two decades as an assistant until 2017 and helped the Raiders win seven Interscholastic League of Honolulu titles and three Hawai'i High School Athletic Association championships.
"After an extensive search, we discovered that Paul is the best fit for us," Villa said. "Paul has vast experience in soccer, is an excellent communicator, is very well-organized, understands Chaminade and our mission and philosophy and, in his one season with the team, has earned the respect of the players as the leader. There won't be much adjustment for the team with Paul and I believe he has the leadership skills and game knowledge on the coaching level to take our program to the next plateau of competitive success."
Shimomoto succeeds Jayson Abe, the program's all-time winningest coach, who resigned in November to spend more time with his family.
"We are extremely grateful of Jayson and his leadership in bringing Chaminade men's soccer to a very competitive level in the PacWest while recruiting talented student-athletes who achieved above a 3.0 grade point average during each year of his tenure," Villa added.
"I am excited to get to work," Shimomoto said. "I will do my very best each day to foster the growth and success of our program and to be a positive influence in the lives of our student-athletes."
