No one would doubt that Rick Tune is an authority on volleyball.
And the former collegiate star and current Punahou coach, fresh off an eighth state championship in nine years, had somewhat of a bombshell to rock the Hawaii high school volleyball world Saturday night.
Highly successful Kamehameha-Hawaii coach Guy Enriques will not be in charge of the Warriors next season, according to Tune, whose Buffanblu had just gotten past Enrqiues’ team in four sets in the Division I state final. Enriques confirmed his decision via a phone call Sunday.
“Honestly, I’m really happy that we won, especially for our three seniors, but this moment is not just about Punahou and the championship,” Tune said. “I really want to acknowledge one of the greatest high school volleyball coaches to ever coach here. I was talking to Guy before the match and I know he would never tell you this (right now), but he’s going to go watch his sons travel next year.”
Enriques’ sons, Addison Enriques and Avery Enriques, were part of his squad for four years and will be heading off to play in college. Addison signed to play for Concordia (Irvine, Calif.) and Avery will attend Grand Canyon in Phoenix.
“I don’t think the public really knows how influential he has been with the sport, with that Kamehameha-Hawaii group of kids,” Tune added. “He does more than coach. He is a mentor and he does things the right way. The sport is losing one of the best coaches. I have a deep respect for him.”
Enriques, 62, can be seen hitting the balls to his players and jovially running around like a kid during pregame warmups.
“They keep me young,” he said after Saturday’s match.
“I’m done,” Enriques said loudly Sunday over the phone, sort of a kidding sigh of relief after years of service. “It’s my last hurrah. It’s been pretty awesome. I was very fortunate to coach at Kamehameha-Hawaii. The administration, the support, the coaching and the facilities are great. All of that helped in our success.”
Under Enriques, the Warriors made the Division I state final in four of the last six years, losing to Punahou each time. Kamehameha-Hawaii also made it at least as far as the state semifinals in seven of the last 10 years.
“He’s going to miss me,” Enriques said about Tune. “I went 0-4 (in finals) against him. But seriously, he’s a great coach. He’s very analytical about things and he’s disciplined.”
Next season, in the newly configured Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, Guy Enriques will be able to watch four of his sons play. Evan Enriques, a 2014 Kamehameha-Hawaii graduate, will be a senior at Stanford. Emmett Enriques (’15) will be a junior at Cal Baptist.
“These kids (all of the Warriors’ players) have taught me a lot about coaching,” Guy Enriques said after the D-I final Saturday, perhaps hinting at the time but not yet revealing his plans for next year. “And what a wonderful thing, having a chance to coach your own kids. I wouldn’t have it any other way. At the same time, it’s not easy to do. It’s both rewarding and painful.”
In 2014, Enriques ran a 6-2 offense with Avery and Addison as setters for Evan and Emmett on the outside.
“Four sons at one time,” he said. “Not too many coaches get a chance to do that.”
Enriques said he will still be coaching volleyball. He runs camps on the West Coast that keep him busy and he may offer assistance to the Kamehameha-Hawaii girls team in the fall.
He lost all his talent so he’s retiring. Tried to shake his hand after the match but security intercepted me and escorted me out of arena. Typical bullies.
Remind me never to confide in Rick Tune with anything private or personal: “I was talking to Guy before the match and I know he would never tell you this …”
Maybe he wanted to tell his players before the media?
Education First May 8, 2017 at 2:52 pm
He lost all his talent so he’s retiring. Tried to shake his hand after the match but security intercepted me and escorted me out of arena. Typical bullies.
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This guy loves me!