Ever since her days as a star softball player for the University of Hawaii, Peejay Brun has tried to maintain a Division I pedigree. She did so on the mainland, but she never lost track of her Hawaii roots.
She thinks both her top-level background and her home state will make her a good ambassador for the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
On Wednesday, the Vulcans announced Brun, formerly an assistant at Texas State, as their softball coach.
“For the past 20 years I’ve been coaching and getting experience,” Brun said. “When this opened up, I thought it was the perfect time for me to get back to the islands. What better place than Hilo?”
In a university release, Vulcans interim athletic director Tim Moore hailed Brun for her “combination of collegiate coaching experience and local knowledge that I am looking for to build a successful Vulcans program.”
Moore also announced interim baseball coach Kallen Miyataki has assumed permanent duties.
Brun replaces Jaime Wallin, who resigned in May after four mostly successful seasons that saw the Vulcans go 113-73.
Brun is from Kauai and played four seasons for the Rainbow Wahine, earning NCAA Woman of Year for Hawaii in 1994. She spent the past 12 seasons coaching at the Division I level, with the first four coming as a head coach at Siena College in New York.
The Vulcans last reached the Division II postseason in 2013.
“Honestly, the only difference that I see is the mindset and drive that you put into it in Division I is different,” Brun said. “I’ve already told the players that coming from Division I, my expectations are going to remain high.
“We’re going to push them, but over the years I’ve learned to balance. Everyone has their own personality.”
Brun couldn’t help but notice the Vulcans carried only one player from Hawaii last season, senior Rebecca Lee of Mililani, Oahu. One of her primary goals is to make that number grow.
“I think one of my advantages is I know the local style,” she said. “There is a lot of talent in this state and not enough schools to go around. We need to pull players to Hilo.
“When I was in Texas, I had to recruit players from California. We need to show players they can come here and be part of a family.”
Brun’s first order of business will be replacing Lee, who was named Pacific West Conference Player of the Year last season as UH-Hilo went 22-20.
In announcing the baseball hire, Moore cited Miyataki’s local baseball knowledge and recruiting ties.
Miyataki said he never took for granted that he would be retained after one season as interim coach in which the Vulcans finished 14-33, but the permanent label won’t change his mindset.
UH-Hilo has endured 22 consecutive losing seasons.
“We’re still going to stick to the seven-year plan,” Miyataki said. “I’m very thankful we have the opportunity to keep it going.”
The former Vulcans standout was twice an assistant under Joey Estrella before becoming the program’s second skipper last season.
“As the head coach, it’s more of a managerial job. It’s the business aspect,” he said. “Everybody thinks coaching is easy, but most of the time is spent off the field. You really have to depend on your coaching staff.
“I don’t micromanage. I trust my staff.”