Henry Miranda had a successful run as the Hilo girls basketball coach, but it’ll be a short-lived one.
Miranda was named the Hilo boys basketball coach for the upcoming 2016-17 BIIF season on Thursday.
“The school had good candidates, and I’m really proud they selected me for the position,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the season, and we’ve got good players coming back.”
Miranda was a longtime youth coach and was Waiakea coach Paul Lee’s assistant for seven years.
He waited a long time to get his first BIIF coaching job, which ended with familiar results last season.
The Vikings, behind a senior core of Lexi Pana, Sharlei Graham-Bernisto, Shalyn Guthier and Katie Loeak, finished as the BIIF Division I runner-up for the fourth straight year.
Konawaena captured its eighth consecutive BIIF title and repeated as the HHSAA state champion.
It wasn’t exactly an easy job switch for Miranda, who’s the head of security at Hilo, which means he’ll always be early at practice.
“We had a really good bond with the girls,” he said. “I talked to my wife, coaching staff, and son, who was on my staff last year. But I had a lot of backing from friends and family.”
His son Kahi Miranda, Gary Cooper and Vince Perreira will be his assistants.
Miranda is hoping Sheila “Edie” Azevedo, his other Viking assistant, becomes the Hilo girls coach.
“We’re in the same gym, so we can guide her and help her,” Miranda said.
Last season, the No. 4 seed Hilo boys almost pulled off a major upset against No. 1 Waiakea in the BIIF semifinals but lost 68-66.
The Vikings return their two top scorers in Isaac Liu and Lawrence Padasdao and will be in a dogfight for a state spot.
Konawaena, the BIIF runner-up, returns all its starters and will be a heavy favorite.
Ryan Malone, a key starter, was injured most of the season. The side effect was that others got a lot of experience.
Miranda will also coach against his old pal, Paul Lee, who returns Calvin Mattos, the BIIF player of the year, but loses seniors Noah Ferreira, Louie Ondo, and Kahinu Alapai.
Kamehameha, which fell to Kona 44-42 in the BIIF semifinals on a last-second shot by Austin Ewing, will also feature a different look, losing its two top scorers in Bayley Manliguis and Pukana Vincent.
As far as playing style, it’s unlikely Miranda will bring back Hilo’s tradition of a run-and-gun offense, and full-court pressure defense, like the golden old days.
With the stricter officiating, a lot of BIIF teams, like those at states, are playing zone to prevent players from picking up fouls.
“We’re going to sit down as a staff and see what the team is capable of running,” Miranda said. “Kona will be the favorite, and Waiakea will be right under their heels.”
The last time the Vikings reached states was in 2012. Hilo’s last BIIF title was in 2010.
When the bell rings to end the school day, Miranda will be at practice in the Vikings Gym, where his philosophy will be waiting.
“We’ll see how hard these guys like to work,” he said.