Former Washington Husky Erin Otagaki is in her first season as an assistant coach for the Boilermakers.
Otagaki recently left the Washington program, where she played and coached over the last six years. In her four seasons as a player, Otagaki competed in three NCAA tournaments and was a member of the PAC-10 championship team in 2000. She has spent the last two seasons in Seattle as a volunteer assistant coach, assisting in practices and recruiting efforts.
In addition to volunteering her time to the Huskies, Otagaki also coached both club and ODP teams and directed soccer camps. A native of Honolulu, Hawaii, Otagaki has already received her NSCAA Regional Diploma, a NSCAA goalkeeping license and a US soccer 'C' license.
During her tenure at Washington, Otagaki was heavily involved in the community, volunteering her time at Children[apos]s hospital, the Union Gospel Mission and the Center for Human Services. In 2000, Otagaki served on a UW intercollegiate advisory committee, sharing ideas that would better support student-athletes both athletically and academically.
Academics have played a significant role in Otagaki's career at Washington. In addition to being named to the Dean's List several times, she was twice named PAC-10 Conference All-Academic Honorable Mention and in 2001 was tabbed as UW's Soccer Scholar Athlete.
In 2002, Otagaki was involved with the Wing Luke Asian Museum Sports Project and attended meetings to develop an exhibit highlighting Asian-American athletes in the Seattle community. Otagaki, herself, was a featured athlete in the museum last year.
Otagaki attained her first degree from Washington in December of 2001, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. In March of 2004, Otagaki received a Masters degree in secondary education.
A graduate of Punahou High School in Honolulu, Otagaki twice helped her prep squad place third at the Hawaii state championships (1994, 1997). She participated in the Olympic Development Program regional pool from 1995-96.