Pa'ulasi Matavao

Head Volleyball Coach
6th Year

Matavao, who was raised in Tafuna, American Samoa, was a member of the 1999 Samoa National Basketball Team that won Samoa’s first gold medal at the South Pacific Games in Guam. That success followed a career at Brigham Young University-Hawaii during which Matavao was a two-time All-America selection. While playing basketball for the Seasiders, Matavao also spent three years working and studying under Wilfred Navalta, one of the nation’s top volleyball coaches. After he received his bachelor’s degree at BYU-Hawaii, Matavao was hired to be an assistant basketball coach for the Seasiders.

Having spent two years playing semi-professional beach volleyball after college, Matavao’s first love remained volleyball. A tall, powerfull hitter, Matavao was invited to represent Samoa in the Summer Olympic Games in Australia. He returned to the sport as a coach in 2000 when he was chosen to rebuild the Yellowjacket volleyball program. After inheriting a team that had won only eight conference games in the previous two seasons, Matavao led MSU Billings to a 5-9 PacWest mark and a 9-20 overall record in his first season. In his second year at the helm, Matavao led the Jackets to a 15-15 overall record. It was just the second time in the program’s history that the Yellowjackets had finished with at least a .500 record.

On March 24, 2003, Matavao and Wendi, his wife of 13 years, became parents for the first time. They were blessed with a baby boy they named Lototoa.  Lototoa, or Toa for short, was born in Matavao’s native land of American Samoa. The name Lototoa has deep meanings to Matavao and his wife. Lototoa means "Brave Heart" or "Brave Soul."

On December 14, 2004, the Matavao's welcomed their first daughter into the family.  Alofamailelani was also born in Samoa, and her name means "Love from the Heavens."