After five seasons and state titles in both Division I and Division II, Alika Smith has stepped down as boys basketball coach at Kalaheo.
Smith cited philosophical differences with administration at the school in an interview with Paul Honda for a story running in Tuesday’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Smith was hired in the summer of 2010 after going 24-4 in one season with Punahou, leading the Buffanblu to the state semifinals. In his second year at Kahaleo, he led the Mustangs to the Division II state championship. The following year, Kalaheo won the Division I state title with an overtime victory over Maryknoll, ending the ILH’s five-year state championship run.
In 2014-15, Smith again led the Mustangs to the promised land, beating ‘Iolani in the state final for his third overall state title in five seasons. He has been named the Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State coach of the year twice.
For more on Smith’s departure with quotes from both him and Kalaheo principal Susan Hummel, here is Honda’s complete story from Tuesday’s newspaper. A subscription is required for reading.
Loved that Smith family from ever since back in the 80’s and his Dad. OIA East basketball is gonna miss him. Great guy and super coach. Too bad the DOE and the Kalaheo admins dont know what they doing, we can relate out here in Kahuku.
I hope Alika moves on to even greater sucess than he has had so far. He is obviously an excellent coach! Superior coaches like Alika and Reggie Torres must not waste their skills in the DOE system.
Since Kalaheo’s administrator and AD cited the Positive Coaching Alliance’s standards as a reason for their cause for concern with Coach Smith’s performance, perhaps it would be a good idea for Jeaney Garcia of the PCA to actually investigate to see if there were legitimate grounds for their concern. I would hate to think that these two are hiding behind the PCA’s cause as a way to stonewall a coach and push their own agenda. Can an AD now pick and choose as to who they feel is in violation of the PCA standards? What protection do coaches have against what could be viewed as subjective? If this coach’s tactics are being called into question, there may be a lot of AD’s who have some cleaning up to do in their departments. Looks to me like Kalaheo’s admin just opened a big can of worms. Long remember Coach Smith’s STANGS!