Each Academy Director is hired for each sport within Elite Sports Academy. Each Director will undergo American Red Cross First Aid and CPR certification, fingerprinting, drug testing and a thorough background check conducted. All coaches & volunteers used in the Academy are subject to these conditions.
Each Director is a proven educator in their sport. They are responsible for developing the curriculum that will be taught within their Academy. They will develop the detailed instruction plan to be taught at the players & coaches clinics and will work with proven high school & collegiate officials to develop the curriculum for the officials clinics. They will ensure that the detailed instruction plans are taught correctly at the various locations of their clinics.
Each Director is responsible for identifying their coaches that will implement these instruction plans in accordance with Elite Sports Academy’s standards.
Co-Director of Baseball Operations, Todd Koishigawa
Coach Koishigawa is the Director of Baseball Operations. Coach Koishigawa is a graduate of Kapaa High School and has a degree in Sports Psychology from the University of Hawaii.
He has served as a student assistant coach for 3 years and as an assistant coach for 1 year for the University of Hawaii baseball team where he lettered. He has also served as an assistant & head coach for the Arizona Senior showcase. He has been the head coach of Pac-Five's varsity baseball team since 2004 and was named the ILH Coach of the Year in 2006.
Co-Director of Baseball Operations, Kenny Harrison
Kenny Harrison is a graduate of University High School, earned a college degree in Sociology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Kenny Harrison played collegiate baseball four years at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, was voted 1st team All-American by Baseball Writers Association, Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 1993, selected to the Western Athletic Conference and Western Regional 1st teams in 1993,was selected to the Hawaii High School All-State and All-ILH baseball team in 1989. Played 3 years of Professional Baseball in Japan and the U.S. and has over 15 years of Baseball coaching experience with High School and Youth levels.
Director of Basketball Operations, Kelly Grant
Coach Grant is the Director of Basketball Operations. Coach Grant is a graduate of Maryknoll School, has a Degree in Sociology from Hawaii Pacific University & received a Certificate in Special Education from the University of Hawaii.
Coach Grant coached 2 years of basketball at the youth level, 2 years junior varsity volleyball, 4 years varsity football, 10 years varsity basketball, coached his team to the boys varsity championship game the past two years & led the Kaimuki Bulldogs to the state championship in 2007. He was named the boys varsity basketball Coach of the Year in 2006 & 2007.
Co-Directors of Cheerleading Operations, Melissa Beimes & Giselle Kim
Coach Beimes is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus where she was 3 year member of their cheer team, a member of their Spirit Challenge & National Championship teams and has a degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Physical Education from Whitworth College. Coach Beimes has coached at her alma mater since 1997 and has led them to 9 ILH championships, 6 State championships & 4 National championships. Serving as an assistant coach for many years, she has been their head coach since 2005.
Coach Kim is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus where she was a 4 year member of their cheer team serving as Co-Captain her junior & senior years. She was also a member of 3 ILH championships, 2 State championships & a National championship. She was a member of Hawaii Pacific University’s All-Girl cheer team & is currently pursing her degree in Education from Chaminade University. She has coached at her alma mater since 2003 working primarily with the varsity team but also sharing her expertise in stunt choreography with all levels of the program and has led them to 5 ILH championships, 4 State championships & 3 National championships.
Director of Football Operations - Defensive Backs, Eddie Klaneski
Coach Klaneski is a graduate of Damien Memorial School and has a degree in History (American Studies) from the University of Hawaii.
He was an all conference player for the University of Hawaii as a wide receiver and a defensive back and was a participant in the 1998 Hula Bowl. His professional football career includes being a player for the Indoor Football League’s Hawaii Hammerheads where he was a 1st team selection as a defensive back & was selected the Special Teams Player of the Year. He also played in the Arena Football league from 2001 to 2004.
He served as a student assistant coach for the University of Hawaii – defensive backs, defensive back & defensive coordinator for St. Louis School & a defensive back coach for his alma mater Damien Memorial School and also serves as their track & field head coach.
Director of Football Operations - Linebackers, Jacob Yoro
Coach Yoro is a graduate of St. Louis School where he was a three year varsity football player, team co-captain, was selected as a first team ILH & all-state linebacker and won three prep bowl titles under legendary coach Cal Lee.
He played collegiate football four years at the University of Montana, was a two year starter & played on their national championship team in 2001. He has a degree in History from the University of Hawaii.
He coaches at his alma mater St. Louis School since 2003 as their linebackers coach & has served as their defensive coordinator since 2005 where they have won 3 ILH titles.
Director of Football Operations - Quarterbacks, Neil Rose
Coach Rose is a graduate of University High School where he played football for legendary coach Don Botelho. He has a degree in Economics from Harvard University where he graduated cum laude.
As a collegiate quarterback at Harvard, he holds 18 school passing records including – passing yards in a game, career passing yards, career touchdown passes & single-season and career completion percentage. He served as Harvard Football’s 129th Captain, which is a prestigious honor. In 2001, he led the Crimson to it’s first undefeated season since 1913 and was named the Ivy League’s First Team Quarterback and New England Player of the Year by the Gridiron Club of Boston. He was a participant in the 2003 Hula Bowl.
He coached quarterbacks at Pac-5 from 2003 to 2006 & recently served as the color analyst for Hawaii High School Football radio broadcasts.
Director of Football Operations – Wide Receivers, Randyn Akiona
Coach Akiona is a graduate of St. Louis school where he competed in football & track all four years. He was a member of three prep bowl championship teams and played for legendary coach Cal Lee.
He played four years of college football and one year of track at the University of Montana and has a degree in Communications. He played two seasons of professional football in the Arena Football League 2.
He began his coaching career at Damien Memorial School where he coached track and football. In 2007 he became the wide receivers coach for Iolani School and was part of the 2007 State Division 2 Championship Football Team.
Director of Outrigger Canoe Paddling Operations, Kalama Heine
Coach Heine is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus where he was an ILH Varsity I Canoe Paddling Champion and has a degree from Chaminade University in Computer Science.
Coach Heine has over 30 years of paddling experience and 20+ years of coaching experience. He has been the head coach at his alma mater since 1990 and has coached the Varsity & JV programs to numerous ILH titles. Since Canoe
Paddling became a recognized high school championship sport in 2002, he has guided the boy’s programs to the state title in 2005 & 2006 and 1 mixed title in 2007.
Director of Sailing Operations, Scott Petritz
Mr. Petritz is the Waterfront Director for Kama’aina Kids. Scott is a graduate of Nicolet High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and received a B.A. degree in History from the University of Utah. He has over 19 years of sailing experience, the last six as a sailing instructor.
He is a U.S. Sailing level one certified instructor, lifeguard, and has also completed the Ocean Safety Course for ocean recreation specialists. Scott spent five summers as a sailing coach at the Milwaukee Yacht Club. Scott still sailboat races weekly and is an avid surfer.
Director of Sport Psychology, Darryl Oshiro
Mr. Oshiro is a graduate of Kaiser High School and has a degree in Psychology from the University of Hawaii & received his Master‘s Degree in Physical Education, specializing in Sport Psychology from San Diego State University.
He has worked with different levels of athletes in his successful career ranging from youth leagues to the professional ranks. His knowledge and experience in educating athletes to obtain the mental edge has been very productive. He served as the mental skills coach for the Texas Rangers & Chicago Cubs Baseball Organizations.
Currently, he is teaching a Sport Psychology class at the San Diego Golf Academy, Hawaii Campus. He has also authored 6 training guides as well as seminar workbooks.
Director of Track Operations, Lauran Dignam
Coach Dignam is a graduate of Iolani School. She won gold medals in the 100 meter, 200 meter, 400 meter, 4 X 100 meter relay and 4 X 400 meter relay in the Hawaii State Track & Field meet her senior year. In addition to her accomplishments in track, Lauran won ILH player of the year honors for soccer her senior year. She is a 2002 inductee into the Nissan Hall of Honor. She received a Track scholarship to the University of Washington where she received her degree in Sociology. Lauran lettered in Track for all 4 of her collegiate years and holds the 400-meter record in the NCAA/Division 1 for the University of Washington with a time of 54.41.
Lauran is the assistant coach of the Iolani girls cross-country team. She was the assistant sprint coach for Iolani (boys & girls grade 7-12) in the spring of 2007.
Director of Volleyball Operations, George Ehia
Coach Ehia is a graduate of Farrington High School and is the founder of ‘Onipa’a Volleyball Academy.
He has 15+ years of coaching experience which includes the 2006 Junior National Gold Medalist Championship team and the 2007 High Performance team that represented Hawaii.
He has coached at several schools and is the current varsity head coach at Damien Memorial School.
Director of Wrestling Operations, Carl Barton
Coach Barton is a graduate of Beaufort High School in Beaufort, South Carolina and has a degree in Computer Science from Appalachian State University. As a high school wrestler he was a two time South Carolina state champion and a high school All-American.In college he wrestled two years at Pennsylvania State University and two years at Appalachian State University where he placed second and third in the Southern Conference, helping the team win a Southern Conference Championship.
He serves as an assistant coach for the Kamehameha-Oahu wrestling team, helping coach the team to the 2005 state championships.