Who do you think the top candidates should be for the Punahou Job?
The word around Punahou is Darren Matsuda (Assistant Varsity Head Coach) & Scott Leitner (JV Head Coach) are the top candidates now if they stay in house.
I would like to list these candidates:
1-Darryl Gabriel (Will he ever coach again?)
2-Doc Muguishi (Ties to Iolani may be too strong)
3-Riley Wallace (May not be interested in HS Ball)
The problem is Punahou needs to hire someone with legitimate varsity experience, not a friend of the program, or a friend of an administrator.
They need to look for a guy who is passionate, can fix the image of the basketball programs, and will stress skills such as dedication, commitment, effort, and pride.
If you look at the current hires, people with minimal experience are being pushed above coaches with far more experience. It kind of makes you wonder.
@ HF
Coaches also need to switch hats when coaching as opposed to being a fan. Too many of the new coaches seem to be ref critics instead of understanding how the game is being called and then adjust properly to give their players a competitive chance.
Coaches and refs need to be on the same page, not trying to "One Up" one another or attain an edge. Both sides can force situations to become very personal but the fact remains that our players receive the blunt of these actions.
Example: Ref makes a questionable call; Coach calls him/her on this and now the ref reacts and retaliates by making another questionable call. Who are we hurting? The Coach's ego? The ref's? The players should be the primary concern for both sides.
Punahou will probably choose someone popular to some and not so for others. Hopefully it will be someone cognizant to the needs of his player's development on and off the court.
Great points coach....
I think with everything that has happened, Punahou needs to get clear distance and hire someone outside the immediate circles.
If I was the school I would look at the mainland candidate who applied with NCAA experience. He was young and very qualified. Then you give him full authority over the program and can make every single hire from D1 assistant all the way down to Int 2 assistant.
I wonder if Greg Tacon would go back...
What about moving Gary Pacarro from DII to DI?
His teams certainly seem to enjoy themselves.
With the smell associated with the program right now, Punahou needs to look far away for a new hire. I can't think of a better hire than Darryl Gabriel. He is an alum, former great player, proven coach, professional and ethical.
punahou should have hired gary pacarro that last time. if they had hired gary, smith would have stayed at aop and aop could have gone 1 and 21 again. and punahou would not have been put in this embarrassing position nor would they have had to fug their news release to cover smith's lame butt again. my goodness punahou, you have 20 some basketball coaches on staff, give one of them a chance.
the only other option is to give the coaching position to hoopfanatic and pay him and his staff all the food they can eat.
Mutha, I would work for Helena's Ribs. I would let Tacon handle Man Offense, Lum handle Zone Offense, V and Taylor could do defense, Kekoa would be the visualization guy, and I would handle pre and post game meals. I would also import Jones and Ed to handle media and communications. Finally I would hire 2D for security.
HF you are the man cus that would work and everyone would be happy.
Beanboy, you could be in charge of the Xmas Tourney.
get er done
@ HF
WOW!! Talk about recruiting!! That would be the ultimate coaching staff!! But who would be in charge of the post game meeting?
@ OneMutha
I think your points are solid and legit and it tells me you know what happened over at Punahou. I hope you agree that whatever happened there to cause this situation, that Coach Smith has experiences and insights to give our future ballers. Even if the situation is off the charts, if there was a way to help guide him to a more positive situation for basketball, we in Hawaii may become better for it.
Maybe we need to be angry if the situation calls for this, much like we mourn our losses. But in the end, we try to celebrate something good that each person or situation can stand for.
While I do not know what happened and I hope it is not posted to cause embarrassment to Coach Smith, I hope there is a way to help because not long ago Alika the player brought hope and basketball to a community and the state for all of us basketball purist to see.
Coach Brian, you and Coach Agena could be in charge of development of all players. We can add Darren and his protege Robb as local recruiters. Finally we will add Brew as the director of post-game meetings so we can add a little diversity to our staff.
Also Coach P would be in charge of hosting and program events.
I would add Coach Mello or Hathaway but I think they like it where they are.
Darryl Gabriel could not handle the Punahou politics, let Pacarro take the job. He has been with Punahou for many many years let alone an alum. He deserves the job because he does it the right way. With the kids that are coming to Punahou and the kids that are currently playing there you need someone who can handle the parents as well as the players. Darren only can coach if the team is loaded.
@ HF
There are more qualified coaches than I but thanks for the props! I don't know if Brew would take the post game job. He looks too good...lost about 70 pounds so beer may not be his first coice of beverage!
You r right hoop, I am happy, at the happiest place on earth, Disneyworld. But I would love a scrimmage against that lineup of coaches as long as we got to be a part of the post game activities. Soul and Helenas, what more could we ask for.
@ Dodger, Gabriel worked under Cal Lee when St. Louis was at their peak in football. Do you know how much power Cal Lee had during that time? There was so much politics there too and Gabriel made it work. How do you know Gabriel could not handle the Punahou Politics? What evidence can you offer us to support that notion?
Other than Doc Muguishi, I can't think of a Local Prep Coach who is currently not coaching, with Darryl's resume.
With so much problems going on now with the bball program, and the potential of more "severe" problems still pending, I just don't know how you can hire someone in house.
These "potential" problems have the ability to make it to the national scene if you know what I mean.
@ Coach Brian, don't be so modest!
@ RC, great choices for postgame activities.
HF -- In watching Darryl Gabriel coach over the years, there is no doubt that he could do an outstanding job at Punahou. His team would win and he'd instill strong discipline and team work that would get the most out of the enormous talent on hand.
Could he handle the Punahou politics? I believe he could, but would he want to put himself in that position. I know he misses coaching, but coaching should be more than just winning and dealing with parents. In my opinion, he's the best coach available who could do the most over the next 10 years.
I predict Darryl will return to coaching in the next two years if the right job comes along. It'll just come down to choosing what is best for him and his family, and he'll want to not only enjoy the challenge but have some fun in doing it.
No matter who Punahou hires, the team will win most of its games with the talent on hand. But can that coach develop a dominant program that will win four, five or six state titles in the next 10 years. The potential is there.
RC -- Man, nice to see you've returned home, to Disney World. Say hi to the other dwarfs ... come on, I'm just kidding. But seeing photos of you on the Dumbo ride would be impressive.
Enjoy your summer.
Hi-Low, RC is so popular, I believe the Paparazzi is following him around. I would also love to see RC wearing his Mickey Mouse Ears with candy apple in one hand and a giant "Pink" cotton candy in the other hand. Those are the kids of pictures which should be shown on TMZ.
Hi-Low, they need a coach who has a solid resume, and loves to coach versus needs to coach. There's a big difference.
I just want a giant corndog. And yes I have on my ears. My wife wants us to all wear matching shirts tomorrow. Watch tmz for the shots of the most pissed off guy ever at DW. U right though hi-low, I feel like a dwarf here. I need to get back to Hawaii where I am somewhat tall. At least I am skinny here. Well, at least skinnier thanmost of the people here.
@HF Yes I knew Gabriel when he was at St. Louis. He did a great job with great players Ordenstein, Darrnel, Joesph, Timmy Chang, Matt Vivas, Kalin Dudley, Kawika Feeney, etc. but didn't he apply when they hired Tacon. He ran a tight ship not only at St. Louis but Kamehameha as well but it is a different atmosphere at Punahou and we all know it. Let someone on house who knows the in and out of that atmosphere and succeed. The last three coaches since Alan Lum were all overwhelmed by the pressure that is put on them to win. TAcon was what 25-5 andtold bye bye, Hale left after 2 years (one state title) and Alika one year.
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