University of Hawaii at Manoa Women's Sailing

Since taking over as head coach of the University of Hawai’i coed and women’s sailing program in 1990, Andy Johnson transformed what it means to be a member of the team. The former Rainbow Sailor is currently the third-longest tenured head coach all-time at UH with 36 years at the helm and has led the team to two national championships while also being inducted into the ICSA Hall of Fame.   Awards/Accolades ICSA Hall of Fame Inductee (2012). PCCSC Richard H. Lough Memorial Service Award (2012) ICSA Campbell Family Award For Lifetime Service (2026) Coaching Highlights Head coach of University of Hawai‘i Sailing for 36 years; longest-tenured coach in UH Athletics upon his retirement.   Led teams to two national championships (2001 Women’s and 2004 Coed Dinghy titles.)   Guided UH to 23 women’s fleet, 20 coed fleet, 13 singlehanded, 12 team race and 6 sloop  national championship appearances.   Led UH to 21 PCCSC championships.   Coached 18 All-Americans (35 citations) and four Olympians.   Coached three Jack Bonham Award winners, UH’s highest student-athlete honor.   Teams finished top three at the coed fleet nationals in four straight years from 2003–2005.   Helped expand the program from five sailors to over 20 and established a fully funded women’s team.   UH hosted multiple national championships under his leadership   1992: National Sloop   2002: Women’s Dinghy, Team Race, Coed Dinghy   2005: Men’s and Women’s Singlehanded   Assistant to former coach Charley Dole in the mid-1980s before officially becoming head coach in 1990.   Former head sailing instructor at Waikiki Yacht Club (1984–87). Sailing Experience UH sailing letterwinner (1981–1983).   Crewed on two-time state Keelboat Championship team (1992 and 1993).   Three-time state J-24 Champion (1989, 1996, 2005).   Part of 1990 Kenwood Cup overall championship team.   Competed in TransPac and Pacific Cup races across the Pacific.   Education Bachelor's degree in Education, University of Hawai?i at Manoa (1983).   Professional Diploma in Elementary Education, University of Hawai?i (1988).   Attended University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1979 and lettered in ice hockey before transferring to UH.   Hometown White Bear Lake, Minn.   Personal Wife Leslie and daughters Malia and Summer. Enjoys sailing, kitesurfing, surfing, and hiking. Active in the Hawai‘i Yacht Racing Association. Former park ranger at USS Arizona Memorial.  

Career Highlights:   -       2019  ICSA Hall of Fame Inductee. -       Has won two national championships in his years as assistant coach. -       Finished in the top 6 at Nationals while coaching the women’s team from 2001-06 -       Earned All-American distinction three times during his UH sailing career.   In his nearly three decades as assistant sailing coach, Jesse Andrews has been an integral part of UH’s success. The former Rainbow All-American’s superb on-the-water skills has been an instrumental teaching tool as the Rainbows have taken home two national titles, and had nine top five finishes in his time coaching   Over the years, he has helped the University of Hawaii host numerous Pacific Coast Championships, two ICSA National Championships and a yearly Peter Wenner Rainbow Invite that now attracts college sailing teams from Japan, Canada and all over the ICSA.  He has served on the PCCSC board in various leadership positions over the years.   His positive influence on the University of Hawaii sailors and in college sailing in general has not gone unrecognized. In 2019, Andrews was inducted into the ICSA Hall of Fame after being awarded the Graham Hall Award. The award recognizes organizers, administrators, advisors, or coaches in a professional capacity who have served the best interests of college sailing at the team, conference, or national level.   Born Nov. 3, 1973, in Mystic, Conn., Andrews’ first sailing experience was at age 9 when he, his father and grandfather sailed from Maine to Connecticut in an 18-foot Marshall Catboat. Soon after, Andrews enrolled in sailing lessons at the Mystic Seaport in Connecticut and went on to become one of the top youth sailors in the nation. At age 15, Andrews won the Blue Jay National Championships. He also competed in International 420's and Vanguard 15's.   He transferred from The University of Rhode Island to the University of Hawai’i after competing in his fourth 420 world championship in Australia. He graduated from UH in 1997 with a degree in liberal studies. Following his graduation, Andrews traveled throughout Europe as part of the British Universities Sailing Association All-Star team racing tour.   During his time as a Rainbow sailor Andrews participated in 26 regattas, including three national championships. In the spring of ‘95 and ’96, Andrews earned All-American honorable mention accolades. In his senior year, he earned All-American honors, becoming only the fourth Rainbow sailor to receive this distinction.   With the development of the women’s sailing team in the Fall of 1997, Andrews was a welcomed addition to the coaching staff and has been with the program ever since. Not only does Andrews race on the water to challenge the sailors, he also leads vigorous sailing drills that hone the sailors’ boat handling skills. He spends countless hours maintaining boats and has been a constant presence with the program, whether at practice or  traveling with both the Rainbow Wahine and coed teams to mainland regattas.   Andrews, who has held the position of Youth Sailing Director at Kane‘ohe Yacht Club since 1998, still enjoys competing in sailing and team racing. He lives in Kane‘ohe with his wife Shelley, daughter Sage and son Makani.