Kellen Takatsuka joins the Western Oregon University women’s basketball coaching staff for the 2021-22 season. He arrives from Hawaii Pacific University where he served as a volunteer assistant coach over the previous two seasons while completing his undergraduate degree.
During his time at Hawaii Pacific, Kellen had the opportunity to coach with his father, Reid Takatsuka, who is the winningest active collegiate coach in Hawaii holding an impressive record of 209-65.
Takatsuka coached during both the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons as a volunteer assistant, helping the team to a 29-1 overall record in 2019-20. The Sharks were nationally-ranked throughout the season on their way to claiming their third-straight PacWest Championships. HPU finished the season ranked No. 3 in both of the major NCAA Division II Polls and were set to be the top-seed and host of the NCAA Division II West Regional Tournament when the season was canceled due to COVID-19.
During a shortened 2020-21 campaign, the Sharks still put together a season to remember at 13-1, going undefeated during the regular season and advancing to the NCAA Division II West Regional. The loss to Azusa Pacific in Regional action snapped a 38-game winning streak for the Sharks dating back to the 2019-20 season. HPU was ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation throughout the season.
Takatsuka graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hawaii Pacific in May of 2021 with a bachelor of science in business administration with a minor in communication studies. Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, Takatsuka played his prep career at Hawaii Baptist.
