After four years as Castle’s boys basketball varsity coach, Neil Bowers announced his resignation via social media tonight.
“It’s a tough, but right decision,” Bowers said. “I’m definitely at peace.”
Bowers played at Kalaheo and was a boys assistant coach and girls coach at his alma mater before coming to Castle. He also ran the summer varsity and JV leagues there, and during the school year was a force in starting an informal intramural-style league for students.
The Knights were 1-10 in OIA East play this season.
His resignation statement:
To My Castle Knights Ohana,
It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing my resignation from Castle High School as the Boys Basketball Head Coach. Many factors went into my decision these last four weeks since our season’s end, but I decided that this was the best decision to be made for the future of the boys basketball program.
I have been lucky enough to be a part of this program for the past six seasons (four as Varsity Head Coach) and I feel as though I have not lived up to my own expectations of a successful, winning program on the court. I feel that I am no longer the best option for this program’s success moving forward and wish the next coach much success with our returning group of players.
To the faculty and staff, thank you all so much for your willingness to work with our student athletes. It was awesome having you all being so open to communication with me and the players when it came to grade clarifications. I also thank you for your support when attending the games and cheering on our players.
To the families, I thank all of you that put in your countless hours of volunteering with concession stands, potlucks, after game refreshments, and overall support of our program. I appreciate those of you who came to every game, or as many games as you could, to support our program and cheer our team on. You have all done an amazing job raising such incredible young men that have been a pleasure to be around and coach.
To the players, both current and former, I appreciate all the time and effort that you put in for this program. I also thank you for allowing me to teach you everything I know about this game that I love so much. I hope that whatever you learned from me makes you a better player and person in your future. I am sorry that I could not have lead you to more success on the court, but I am proud of the way you conducted yourselves both on and off the court during my tenure. Numerous times I have had parents, referees, and other teams mention how well behaved and sportsmanlike you have all been and how great your attitudes were. For that, I take tremendous pride and appreciation.
Thank you all again for your support these last six years and for your understanding of my decision. I wish you all the best of luck in your futures both on and off the court. I have learned so much from my time as coach at Castle and I appreciate all of the relationships and memories we have made together.
One Pride, One Knights, 1-2-3….PRIDE, 1-2-3….KNIGHTS!
Mahalo,
Coach Bowers
How do I go about applying for basketball coaching position at Castle?
thank you next
You go in the street outside the school with a sign that says I am a masochist.
sad to see another good Coach leave Castle HS Athletic Program. Success is defined in the public schools, by more then just win loss record. Instilling character values is so important in the development of the young student -athlete going through high school. Good Luck Coach Bowers as you move on, they will miss your influence and if they don’t know that now, they will realize that down the road when their maturity kicks in. for some of them, they will be like their parents and never grow up.
Dennis, you betta do your due diligence and do your homework before you apply.