Head Coach - Alika Smith
Assistant Coach - Kekoa Taliaferro
Hawaii High School Basketball Forum
Hawaii Hoops - Forum » High School Boys
Punahou Boys Basketball Head Coach (09-10) CONFIRMED!
(90 posts)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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so two of my boys on here told me but i guess dey no more da cahones to post, haha.....
Posted 2 years ago # -
yup it's true....
Posted 2 years ago # -
I will tell you what is funny, picking a Kalaheo grad over 4 Punahou grads, lol.
I guess a Kalaheo edumacashon is better than a Punahou one.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I wish Alika Smith good luck on his stint as the new head coach. Got to talk with him this summer at LeJardin. Very nice guy.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Howzit HiHoopsFan...Shaka gave me the news but I wanted to get confirmation before I post. Prevent the ol' foot in the mouth syndrome!
Posted 2 years ago # -
BBJ, the mailman, janitor, and security guard told me today while I was at Punahou....
Posted 2 years ago # -
This opens the doors for my man Coach Wally Marciel at Kalaheo. Go gett'em!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Gotta say I didn't see that one coming.
Posted 2 years ago # -
HF, that's funny...I thought I was the one who told you!
By the way, what were you doing at Punahou on a Sunday?
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think this hire sux. You have a guy who wasn't retained by two colleges. At UH, Wallace brought him in, but he wasn't retained by Nash. Nash was his coach, so this must tell you something. Then Law at UH-Hilo didn't keep him either.
I am not saying Alika isn't a cool guy. But, on paper he doesn't look any better than the other candidates. This is a slap in the face to all the Punahou guys, especially Kekoa.
This hire is purely for image, former D1 athlete and son of the great Pete Smith.
Sorry guys but coaching at AOP, and barely doing anything at UH and UH-Hilo isn't impressive.
Byron Cheng formerly from Mid Pacific sat on the UH Wahine bench and he didn't do anything at Moanalua and Mid Pacific. And, Cheng did more on Goo's bench than Alika did on Wallace's bench.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I guess we need to wait and see if Coach Smith can change his not so gleaming reputation as a Basketball Coach and make the Punahou Program his own. I'm willing not to pass judgment and give him a chance. But if Iolani routs them by 30, then he's fair game.
The only question I have is for all the Punahou guy's who have applied for the job numerous times...Why the hell are you guy's still there?
It's like asking a hot chick out who keeps turning you down and unless you get a better job and better looking you got no shot at her.
If coaching basketball is really your thing (and we have to assume it is if you're applying for the head job) then leave that place that gives you no respect and go coach kids at a different school. Hawaii high school basketball will be better if you did. That whole laundry list of guy's are really good coaches and at some point they got to leave the comfort of the Buff'n'Blue and go take on a program and make it better.Posted 2 years ago # -
backpick says, "The only question I have is for all the Punahou guy's who have applied for the job numerous times...Why the hell are you guy's still there?
It's like asking a hot chick out who keeps turning you down and unless you get a better job and better looking you got no shot at her."WOW, I totally agree with you on this backpick. But, did you ever think, that maybe these guys are good coaches cuz they are at Punahou? Really, how hard is it to win when your normally have the most talent?
Maybe these guys don't want to leace cuz they're afraid they will be exposed and cannot win if they weren't at Punahou?
Is that a thought backpick?
I cannot stand how these guys are made to be Punahou's bitches, and what's worse is they take it.
Posted 2 years ago # -
basketballjones wrote from the other post..."talk about a backdoor" you got that right.
i agree w/ KS-this hire sucks. i don't like to pass judgment early either but have a bad feeling this will be a wasted season just "to see" if he can "actually" do something. or perhaps just a logical choice from the higher ups of someone they can control?? can't say for sure.
and jus to add a little fuel to the fire...hope this new coach doesn't get too much "winnings" from being in this new position...some may know what i mean and others may not...i doubt those who hired him knew.
will wait for the punahou v iolani score...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Punahou has been very selective at the head coaching position so far.Picking Alika is a great choice.Yes he is alittle lazy and bigger in his later years.But he is a great coach.Yes he has a huge ego, but he was a great player to match.I like the pick.Alika's ego will grow even bigger when they win the ILH.Watch as he rides the refs, wining and complaining about every call.He fits in the Punahou personality.
Posted 2 years ago # -
It's unfortunate that Tacon's tenure coincided with the Low-Pape-Shoji years. But Tacon/Punahou wasn't the only coach/team to not win States...no one did! They really messed up when they let him go.
The thing about Punahou is, even if they hired Mike Krzyzewski or Phil Jackson, there would be parents that would still find something to complain about.
Best of luck to Coach Alika Smith.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Congrats Alika!!
Good luck and make the most out of the very talented athletes you have.
Posted 2 years ago # -
It's officially official! Alika Smith has been baptised as the man in charge of basketball at Punahou.
Posted 2 years ago # -
"Punahou has been very selective at the head coaching position so far.Picking Alika is a great choice.Yes he is alittle lazy and bigger in his later years.But he is a great coach.Yes he has a huge ego, but he was a great player to match.I like the pick.Alika's ego will grow even bigger when they win the ILH.Watch as he rides the refs, wining and complaining about every call.He fits in the Punahou personality."
No offense, but how do you determine if he is a good coach or not? He wasn't a head coach at the college level. I think he was at AOP, but they weren't too hot.
What is the criteria you use evaluate someone to see if you are a good coach or not?
Posted 2 years ago # -
I fell out of my chair when I read the Advertiser. I've managed to climb back in ...I'm still a bit dizzy though. I am going to try and be as kind as possible.
The Players:
Jeaney Garcia - I have heard wonderful things about you and I'm sure that in many ways you are a breath of fresh air. But your first hire is an absolute head scratcher. You are not in LA anymore...supposed "star power" does not count. The honeymoon period is officially coming to an end...
Kale Ane - So long as it doesn't interfere with football, he does not care much. I don't think the new hoops coach is going to be pushing back too much anyway.
Jeff Meister - Ditto. So long as nobody is wet, it's not his concern.
Human Resources Dept/Athletic Dept. - I think the person hired had about 2 of the 500 qualifications that were listed on the mile long job description. if you are not going to pay attention to the prerequisites then next time 2 words..."applicants needed" will do.
Punahou Graduates on Staff - My heart truly bleeds for you. You give so much and get disrespected. You all deserve better...if one of you got hired, it would be as if all got hired. You can still count on the annual "donation request" letter from the School though.
Kekoa - Let's see...you are a Pun graduate, former Pun player...have coached there for a number of years...been successful...coached at Moanalua...been successful...are working on a teaching degree...are an outstanding young coach...only 4-5 years younger than the hire...players like you, parents like you...if hired you would add stability to the Program and be there for the next 10 years...did the selection committee tell you that you were overqualified for the job? I'll help you get the knife out of your back...don't try and pull it out yourself.
Kelly Grant - They must still be upset at you for beating them so soundly in the 2007 State Championship game. Because I tell you what, that resume of yours is pretty darn impressive. If the selection committee goes with a non-Punahou coach...it's a no-brainer.
Sports Illustration - does classification mean anything to you? it's a lot tougher to beat Mater Dei twice a year than it is to beat Damien.
Alika Smith - you were a damn good player and I've heard that you are a really good person. For the sake of Punahou basketball I hope that I am wrong and things turn out well for you. You do not know what you are getting in to...learn how to swim in the deep end. Best of luck.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Punahou couldn't have hired Coach Grant. He has too much baggage that Punahou parents would easily find out about. In the DOE, those things are easy to hide. We are talking about the Gossip School of the US, the parents will find out, and another potential scandal would be too much, too soon.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I don't blame the school (Punahou) for using the coaches backpick. If they wanna continue to take it from behind, then let em.
I agree with u backpick that they keep asking out the same girl and keep getting rejected. Maybe these guys like rejection, who knows?
If these guys had any self-esteem or self-worth, then they should leave and look for employment elsewhere.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Pistol Pete...well said. Thanks for making me laugh this morning!
Posted 2 years ago # -
BBJ - No charge my friend.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Does Alika bring his right hand man Ryan Hogue to Punahou with him. If you've seen AOP over the past two years, Hogue did most if not all the game coaching over there. And if Hogue goes over what does that do to Kekoa's position? You would asume that Kekoa was retained to be in the 2nd chair. More drama for the school that loves it the most.
To my boy Kona, you're right on the money with Pun Assistants. If they stay on (I bet they all do) then they have no one to blame. At some point the question needs to be asked why are you still there. Is it for the love of hoops and teaching young men, or is it the prestige of being a Punahou coach. If it's the later, then there's your reason for getting overlooked everytime the job opens.
I'm glad we can finaly put this story to rest and get ready for the upcoming season.Posted 2 years ago #
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