Less than a year after leaving the Mānoa campus, Mike Wilton and Tino Reyes will be back coaching volleyball in the University of Hawai'i system.

Reyes has been named interim head coach of the UH-Hilo women's volleyball team.

Reyes said his first act will be to hire Wilton as an assistant.

"For sure," said Reyes, who was associate head coach of the UH men's volleyball team for 17 seasons.

Last year, Wilton retired as head coach of the Warriors after 17 seasons.

Reyes was one of four finalists for the job as Wilton's successor, which eventually went to Charlie Wade.

Reyes spent the past few months as head coach of the Outrigger boys 18 team.

Wilton was an assistant coach with the Brigham Young women's team during the 2009 season. After that, he volunteered with the Northern Arizona women's team before moving back to Hawai'i.

Last week, Reyes was offered the UH-Hilo job. Bruce Atkinson, who was 69-14 the past three seasons, resigned at Hilo to accept the coaching job at Towson University in Baltimore. UH-Hilo announced Reyes' hiring yesterday.

The Vulcans will open a nationwide search for a permanent coach in the fall. A decision will not be made until after the 2010 season.

Reyes hopes to help his campaign with a successful season. Six key Vulcans return, including All-America setter Katie Swenson.

The Vulcans, who compete in NCAA Division II, are capable of offering the financial equivalent of six full out-of-state scholarships. That amounts to more than $120,000 that can be split among the players.

Reyes does not officially start until March 16. But he already is in Hilo, mapping his recruiting strategy.

"I'm real happy for Tino," Wilton said. "He's a good volleyball coach, and an even better person. He's going to do a great job."

Wilton's wife is from Hilo, and the couple had owned a house there.

Reyes said it has not been finalized whether Wilton will be joining as full- or part-time assistant.

"One way or the other," Reyes said, "we'll be working together again."