Comments on: 1-ON-1: Eric Kadooka opens up on stepping down at Maryknoll

By: Dakine

Dakine — Sun, 14 Apr 2019 02:20:57 +0000

Falcon Future…I do in fact believe the transition from D2 to D1 was a big one, and one that would bring on a lot of challenges. However, losing the motivation of a team that had experience winning is a reflection of coaching. Take for example Kalaheo’s championships in back-to-back years in D2 and D1 from 2012-2013 (funny, as they beat Maryknoll too lol). They made a huge jump and had a change in coaching, but had a good staff and made their players believe. Who’s to say Maryknoll will ever win a D1 championship. I just hope people realize that it takes more than a hefty resume and a well known name to get guys to buy in.

By: Braddah Bu

Braddah Bu — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 20:49:08 +0000

Coach Kadooka is a great coach! I am close with a lot of former players in their heyday of the 7 years in a row. They all say Coach Kadooka was old school, he was tough on everyone whether you were all state or a state champion. He treated everyone the same. He brought the best out of players and challenged them to the point where you wanted to fight, but at the end. They all say the same thing, he was a great coach! If anyone could do it, he could. THE DIFFERENCE from what I heard, these kids didn’t fully buy in and listen to what he said or commit to being better. He is obviously not sugar coating what happened by what the article states.
Everyone knows if he stayed at Punahou, he probably would’ve won at least 4 in the least 9 years.. At least! I wish the best of luck to his former player Aglipay, he’s a product of Kadooka and we’ll see if he can create some magic for this new generation. Don’t listen to the noise or negativity.

By: Friedrice1

Friedrice1 — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 07:27:38 +0000

Former Coaching Staff wanted to make Maryknoll a Div 1 power. I know they wouldn’t quit like Kadooka did. He couldn’t handle what it takes to take this program to the next level.

By: Friedrice1

Friedrice1 — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 07:23:55 +0000

Hmmm. Sounds like he was overmatched. Too old school. Easy to win if you got talent like at Punahou. Hard to win if your players don’t believe in you.

Maybe Randy had a better clue on how to take this program to the next level. He won 3 in a row.

It’s ok. The Basketball program finally won a State Championship. Great Job in recruiting.

By: Coach/fan

Coach/fan — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 03:42:41 +0000

Would be really interesting to hear from some former Punahou players that played for Kadooka. I don’t think his coaching style has changed; the only changes are the talent level he has (or doesn’t have) and the parents he had to answer to. Much like Hirata in basketball, Kadooka chose to “play against the best” rather than dominate in Div II. I applaud both of them for trying to raise the level of play of their players.
So . . . Former Punahou players, what was Kadooka like in your heyday?

By: Falcon Future

Falcon Future — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 00:06:33 +0000

^^^ LOL, no offense Dakine but I hope you realize there is a big difference between D1 and D2 baseball. To put it simple, if Maryknoll was still in D2 baseball, they would be winning more “championships” in these last couple years. Kadooka wanted to push Maryknoll up to D1 but those boys found out the hard way that it is a different beast to play against the big boys.

By: Dakine

Dakine — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 19:55:22 +0000

Attitudes reflect leadership…how can a program with 4 championships within 6 years, as recent as 2015, have unmotivated players?..hmmm.

By: Falcon Future

Falcon Future — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 17:53:31 +0000

This is proof that the toughest coaching job is to be at a school with less talent than the rest of the league. Kadooka is a good baseball coach who truly knows the game. He already showed it at Punahou. If Kadooka was the coach at Iolani instead of Maryknoll, I am pretty certain that Iolani would be in contention for the ILH title right now.

But it takes a different kind of coach to mold talent from the bottom and build them up. Ryan Hirata knows all about it for basketball. I guarantee you Hirata will be leading Iolani to some ILH basketball titles in the coming years. Does that mean he will get better as a coach? No, he’s always been a good coach. Its just that Mid-Pac doesn’t have the basketball talent to contend in the ILH. Same like Maryknoll for baseball.

By: teresa

teresa — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 16:13:30 +0000

too bad, so sad. tired of losing

By: Uncle Kino

Uncle Kino — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 08:14:15 +0000

Kadooka is a very knowledgeable baseball coach. No one will ever question that. When he is ready to coach again he will get that opportunity. Not sure if it will be in the ILH. Running out of schools.