Darren Hernandez has coached plenty of football.
He also loves to crank out a player’s video highlight, or several, and get them out to college coaches. It just so happens the longtime coach has done just that for decades while at Kapolei. But going back to his years as Campbell’s coach, Hernandez has racked up a formidable record. When the Hurricanes shut out Waianae on Saturday, Hernandez, now in his 23rd season as a head coach, surpassed Masa Yonamine for fifth place on the all-time OIA wins list with 121 victories in Oahu Interscholastic Association high school football games.
“Somebody just texted me that I just tied (and later passed) Masa Yonamine for coaching victories. I remember meeting him, an older guy, handing out with Eddie Hamada,” Hernandez said recently. “That’s how long I’ve coached. I love what I’m doing.”
HPW researcher and resident “Mad Librarian” Jerry Company is intrigued by the comparison of coaches from entirely different eras. Yonamine later became the Marauders’ athletic director. The facility at Waipahu is named after him.
“During Yonamine’s heyday, Waipahu’s district was the westernmost on the island, stretching all the way to Kaena Point. That allowed him to invent ‘platoon football’ using separate teams on offense and defense and rotating three different groups on the D-line,” Campany said. “Nobody could match it.”
Kapolei, one of four 1-0 teams in the OIA Open Division, plays at Farrington on Saturday night. Hernandez is 2-8 against the Govs while at Kapolei.
Congratulations!
This is an unusual article, something readers wouldn’t expect to read about. Nothing against coach Hernandez but Is it really an accomplishment to post how many wins a coach has achieved during his career especially when he or coach Say hasn’t won a championship title? Surely, the longer a person coaches, the wins will add up. I would think that the ultimate goal is to win a championship. It’s like being an all-pro NFL or NBA player and never winning a championship ring during their career. And on another issue, as a commentator for OC16, coach Hernandez made joking comments about Kahuku’s coach Carvalho’s “White Pants” that brought back memories about Hernandez. As a young coach, Hernandez dressed up…ready for battle, short pants and combat boots..funny. I guess he forgot how he use to dress up for the games.
Congrats to all the coaches! Every win is a big accomplishment, especially for the kids!
congratulations to all those coaches who sacrifice their personal time, pursuing more lucrative careers, to work with our youth to develop their character. The bottom line should never be “win at all cost” only the private schools and Kahuku have that mentality. Thats why they change coaches in what seems like every year. Poor Makoa Freitas, take em to the championship game, fall short within the last minute of the game and is not re-hired. Hope Sterling can win it all, otherwise he may be gone too. The players will remember their coaches down the road for helping to mold them into a better person they they were. Great Group of Coaches listed there. Thanks Paul Honda, very interesting.
Coach Say did win the first D2 Championship at Aiea. My son in law was on the team. They got a really nice ring.