Konawaena received applications from far and wide for its head football coach opening, but in the end, the best option for the Wildcats was right in their backyard.
Brad Uemoto will be promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach of the Konawaena’s football program, the school announced over the weekend.
Uemoto is a 1997 Konawaena graduate and garnered All-BIIF honors during his prep career in football, basketball and baseball. He has been with the football program for five years, serving as Konawaena’s offensive coordinator under former head coach Cliff Walters and previously under Aaron Nagata. Uemoto also spent five years with the basketball program coaching under Donny Awa before transitioning to the gridiron.
Uemoto received his degree in civil engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is now a businessman in Kealakekua where he and his wife Lia are raising their three children.
“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to coach at my alma mater and it’s an honor to be chosen as the next leader of this storied program,” Uemoto said. “There is something special about using football as the vehicle to build student-athletes to become great people in our community.”
The Wildcats won three consecutive BIIF championships during the Walters-era, before losing to Kamehameha 35-13 in last year’s title game.
Uemoto acknowledges there have been plenty of highs and some lows during his time coaching at Konawaena, but has used every experience as a learning opportunity.
“The season under Aaron Nagata was one of the most humbling experiences. We had two seniors on that squad, one of which was hurt for half the season. Ending the year at 3-7 and losing to Ka’u taught me a lot about being a coach,” Uemoto said. “Aaron ran a tight ship and instilled the traditions of our program and I feel those things are important in building on our current success. Under Cliff Walters, I will never forget his prediction that we would win the title in his first season. That was the tone he set for all four seasons — it was about preparing better than anyone else and having that confidence to overcome any doubt. Cliff was such a good motivator and he made players believe they could do anything.”
With a talented core of returning starters and a solid crop of upcoming junior varsity players, Konawaena seems primed to challenge for the BIIF title again next season. However, Uemoto is not letting the focus stray from the classroom.
“As the new head coach, one of the first goals will be getting every student athlete academically eligible. Instilling in these kids the importance of education as it pertains to playing high school sports but more importantly setting themselves up for life,” said Uemoto. “I would also love to see our players demonstrate sportsmanship and class on and off the field. I want this school and community to be proud of these student-athletes. I want these kids to succeed in life and remember their football experiences forever. If we can pair all of those goals with wins and titles, I believe that would be the ultimate achievement for a coach.”
