Drew Fernandez knows all about living under a Big Island Interscholastic Federation coaching legend’s shadow. ADVERTISING Drew Fernandez knows all about living under a Big Island Interscholastic Federation coaching legend’s shadow. No matter where he goes, once someone discovers his
Drew Fernandez knows all about living under a Big Island Interscholastic Federation coaching legend’s shadow.
No matter where he goes, once someone discovers his last name, two obvious questions always follow: Are you Don’s boy? Why aren’t you coaching basketball?
Out in Kapaau, Don Fernandez, the venerable Kohala boys basketball coach, is like Norm from the TV series “Cheers.” Everybody knows his name.
All the Cowboys hoops fans know that he always wears his beloved Chuck Taylor shoes at games.
His son Drew, a 2005 Kohala graduate, is the first-year coach for the undefeated Hilo girls volleyball team, and a lot of people recognize that well-known surname.
“It’s so funny because we played out at Ka‘u last week, and one of the fans came up to me and said, ‘Are you Don’s boy?’ Strangers walk up to me at KTA and ask the same thing,” said Fernandez, a teacher at Hilo High. “I’ll say, ‘Yes. Don is my father.’ When I call him up and tell him about it, he just laughs.”
Don and Deidre “Deedee” Fernandez’s children — Darcee, Dione, Drew and Kona — didn’t dribble a basketball 24 hours a day. They all played volleyball and basketball at Kohala.
“My mom and dad are Kohala graduates and played both basketball and volleyball,” Drew said. “My mom played volleyball in Canada for a half-year as an exchange student.”
Don Fernandez started coaching the Kohala girls in 1999, and took over as the boys coach in 2004. He’s still going strong.
Kohala has won BIIF Division II championships in 2007, ’08, ’09 and ’14, and finished as the runner-up in 2012, and the formula throughout the years has always been the same.
“The first person I called when I got the job was my dad,” Drew said. “We talked for two hours. The thing he taught me was you have to have discipline, but patience as well. He would win BIIF titles then have a new team the next year, and have to rebuild. Patience is the way to go.”
The Vikings received a major boost in ball-handling with the transfer of 5-foot-5 senior defender/outside hitter Haa Kalauli from Nanakuli on Oahu.
“Haa brings a good thing, having the experience of playing on Oahu,” Fernandez said. “It’s a different game over there, and we’re learning from her. She has a humbleness, and an intensity to be up on every play, and push every single point.
“She’s quiet, yet she’s powerful and does the job she needs to do. She has the ability to play anywhere, and obviously she has great bloodlines.”
While Kalauli will be around for only a season, Hilo has a nice building block in 5-7 freshman outside hitter Kawai Ua, who attends Ka Umeke Kaeo, a Hawaiian language immersion school.
“She’s got an all-around game, but you can see certain parts where she’s young,” Fernandez said. “But she’s one of our top offensive players, and she has a heavy arm swing.”
A trio of returning senior starters — right-side hitters/setters Taylor Alicuben and Raevyn Kaupu and middle blocker Shavonne DeMattos — provide experience and stability.
Hilo has been to the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division I state tournament the last three years as the league’s runner-up, so the trio is well-versed in big-stage games.
All three landed on the All-BIIF first team last year. Alicuben, Kaupu and DeMattos received honorable mention. It’s their turn to lead the team, which should be in a dogfight with Kealakehe and Waiakea for the league’s second spot to states.
Four-time defending BIIF champion Kamehameha is the undisputed title favorite. With three USA Volleyball A1 players — Kaiulani Ahuna, Zoe Leonard and Kamalu Makekau-Whittaker — it’s the most talented roster in school history.
In a showdown of unbeatens, Kamehameha (7-0) hosts Hilo (6-0) about 7:15 p.m. Tuesday at Koaia Gym in Keaau.
Asked his team’s goal, the son sounded much like his father.
“We want to take it one game at a time. Our first step is BIIFs, and hopefully if we win that, our ultimate goal is states. I think we have so much talent, and my coaching staff is helping me a lot.
“I know everybody is expecting a lot. It’s a different sport and it’s not basketball, but I’ve learned a lot from him about basketball and volleyball. And I’ll take what he taught me. I know I have to live up to his reputation.”
