He’s been an assistant at Hilo High and UH-Hilo, and he’s a longtime hitting instructor with a strong links to the youth baseball community.
Recently, he’s even tried his hand at formal education.
Eric Kurosawa can draw upon all those experiences in his new gig as Waiakea’s baseball coach.
“To me, it’s about sharing knowledge and the love of baseball,” the 61-year-old Kurosawa said Wednesday, “and hopefully they maybe enjoy me enough that maybe one day when their kids are playing they might want to help them coach. That they can become good dad and sons.”
The third try was indeed the charm for Kurosawa, who twice previously applied for the Waiakea post and takes over a perennial BIIF Division I contender that has become one of the best programs in the state. He replaces Rory Inouye, who resigned after leading the Warriors to their second consecutive runner-up finish at the HHSAA tournament in his third season.
“I still believe in mastering the fundamentals,” Kurosawa said off his philosophy. “I’m just looking forward to working with the players and getting to know the players and families.”
Kurosawa will be Waiakea’s fifth coach since 2011, though the Warriors have remained the picture of stability, reaching states every year during that span, including winning the crown in 2012.
“I haven’t done anything yet,” he said, making every attempt to downplay his hiring.
Still, Waiakea appears to be ready-made to contend again in 2019, returning a strong nucleus that includes first-team all-BIIF picks Stone Miyao, Kala’i Rosario – who hit .538 as a sophomore – and Khaden Victorino, as well as honorable mention selections Cody Hirata, Safea Villaruz-Mauai and Devin Midel.
Hirata, a right-handed pitcher, will be in the mix to fill the shoes vacated by David Nakamura, the team’s ace and the reigning BIIF D-I player of the year, and starting spots are available in the infield as well.
Kurosawa was set to talk to his team for the first time Thursday, and he was still putting the finishing touches on a coaching staff.
“I guess (the No. 1 goal) it always development,” Kurosawa said. “The only regret is the senior class. I’m only going to have them one season. That would be my only regret.”
From a developmental standpoint, Kurosawa has been working behind the scenes at Waiakea, and other Big Island schools, for years. He’s personally produced three ball-players – Ryan Kurosawa played at Hilo High and UH-Hilo, daughter Paige was a Warrior before joining the Vulcans softball program and Shaun Kurosawa is a 2016 Waiakea grad who plays at at Benedictine University at Mesa (Ariz.)
Eric Kurosawa also has had a hand in the development of scores of other players, both at his Big Island Sports Academy, where he’s been an instructor since the mid-1990s, and as a PONY Baseball coach. He coached All-Star teams to state titles in 2009, ‘11 and ‘13, with the latter group reaching the World Series.
A graduate of Iolani on Oahu, Kurosawa played Division I college baseball at Colorado State before finishing his degree at UH-Manoa. He previously coached under Buzzy Capellas at Hilo High and Callen Perreira at UH-Hilo softball.
One of his favorite mottos is “You can be them,” a you-can-do-anything-with-your-life mantra he tries to instill in his special education class at Waiakea Intermediate.
“Teaching is very rewarding,” Kurosawa said.
Coaching Waiakea baseball can be as well. The Warriors are likely to win, it’s just a matter of how far they go.
Ultimately, Kurosawa won’t judge his success based on championships.
“In 10 years from now, are our players good men and good fathers,” he said.
