Coach Rich Miano and his Kaiser football team (5-1, 5-0) are gunning for the OIA White title and looking at possibly making some noise in the state tournament.
Miano is quick to point out how his players are in tip-top condition, and he doesn’t take the credit for it.
“We have the best strength coach in Hawaii in Chad Ikei,” Miano said. “What he does is phenomenal. He spends more time with the the football players than I do. He’s a Kaiser alum and he wants to give back, and he doesn’t get paid for it.”
After a recent win over Nanakuli, Golden Hawks coach Keala Watson — a former University of Hawaii defensive lineman — remarked that Kaiser’s conditioning program was better than anything he has seen previously.
“Keala is exactly right,” Miano said. “Chad also works with NFL guys and college guys who fly over here from the mainland to become bigger, faster and stronger. Our players are really fortunate to be able to work with him.”
Miano mentioned that other community-minded people have donated their time to helping the Kaiser players — in study hall.
“There’s more to being a high school football player than being on the field,” Miano said. “You’ve got to do the work in the classroom, too.”
Is it ethical that Chad Ikei uses Kaiser High School to train college and pro athletes? The article says that he doesn’t get paid for training Kaiser students, but do non- Kaiser students pay him? How much does he charge non- Kaiser high school, college and pro athletes? Does Chad Ikei keep those monies or does it go Kaiser High School?
Good job Chad no matter what,at least your helping others.
It’s not the conditioning program, it’s the recruiting.
Chad is to be given all the gratitude for his voluntary free services for his alma mater. Hawaii has hundreds of others doing the same, for the sake of the children, including me. Say thank you to Chad! Wassa matta you?
Free services for Kaiser High School athletes…. no problem. The issue that should be looked into is Chad Ikei running a business for profit using Kaiser’s facilities.
The IB Program at Kaiser allows students from out of district to attend Kaiser High. I guess the question is how many football players are actually enrolled in the IB Program?
No worries, Chad. Kaiser High School alumni will always have your back. You are doing a great job, as is Rich Miano. UH could learn a thing or two from the staff at Cougar Nation.
Matt is correct. Kaiser became a beast in two years with Ikei, Miano, and the coaching staff he brought in. Every good school has a bunch of recruits out of district. Waianae had lots of Nanakuli boys playing for them throughout the years.
Conditioning may be a part of it. Recruiting kids from out of district under the guise of IB or GE is a major part of it.
M.K. & Keoki have it right … too much funny business going on.
Maybe with added transfers from out of district, along with bounce backs from ILH schools, Kaiser will be able to compete when they move up to the Red Division in the future.
All u haters now kaiser is winning now people talking crap. No body talk about all the other schools getting transfers . If kaisers recruiting what are they giving the kids free lunch, free education come on haters…kaiser was asking to move up this season not their fault o.i.a never move them up .and coach chad doing this for fee giving back to his alma mater..