Wahine coaching tree grows

Former Rainbow Wahine softball standout Alex (Aguirre) Gomez’s new job will bring her back to Hawaii … as a visiting coach.

Gomez, who played for UH from 2009-12, was named head coach at Academy of Art on Monday. Academy of Art is scheduled to visit Hawaii for PacWest Conference series against Chaminade, Hawaii Pacific and Hawaii Hilo in the spring.

As a sophomore, Gomez hit .311 with 13 home runs for the Rainbow Wahine, the last two coming at the Women’s College World Series. She sparked UH with a solo shot in the opening-round win against Missouri and went deep again in a memorable 17-pitch at-bat against UCLA.

Gomez joins former UH teammate Katie (Grimes) Profitt as Division II head coaches. Profitt is entering her third season at Eckerd College.