Park University Gilbert Director of Athletics Angelique Claussen has announced the hiring of Pisila "P" Tukia as the new head coach of the Buccaneer women's volleyball team. Tukia will also oversee the beach program, which is helmed by Pat Mooney, but Mooney will report to Tukia.
Tukia, an Arizona native, was a three year (2008-10) collegiate player at NCAA Division II Chaminade University of Honolulu in Hawaii where she was a middle blocker and had 327 kills in three seasons. Prior to Chaminade she played one year at Chandler-Gilbert Comminute College.
Tukia graduated with a BA in Criminal Justice with a pre-law focus and a minor is psychology in 2011. She stayed at Chaminade to earn her master's in education with an emphasis in instructional leadership in 2014. She remained at Chaminade as the Student Activities Coordinator from 2017-2021.
In November of 2021, Tukia was hired as the Athletic Operations Manager at Park Gilbert where she oversaw the Student Athlete Council as well as student engagement and the school's work study program.
While handling all of these duties at Park, Tukia was helping to build the Ta'ahine Volleyball Club of Arizona from one team in 2020 to a club with over 100 players and two locations in Phoenix on the east and west side. She was also the head volleyball coach at Skyline High School in Mesa, Ariz., for two seasons where she helped to bring respectability back to a struggling program. She raised over $18,000 in two seasons for the program. The varsity program carried a 3.47 GPA and the junior varsity program a 3.26 GPA.
From 2015-19, Tukia was an assistant and promoted to head coach of the Ta'ahine Hawaii Volleyball Club in Kaneohe, Hawaii. She helmed the 16u and 18u teams during her time with the club.
Tukia graduated from Tempe High School in Tempe, Ariz., where she was a three sport athlete (volleyball, basketball and track and field). She was named team MVP in volleyball and basketball. She was a member of the National Honor Society and was Student Body President her senior year.
"It is a tremendous honor to be chosen to lead the Park-Gilbert Volleyball program," said Tukia. "My family and I are so grateful to continue to be a part of the Bucs Family. I can't wait to get started."
