Hawaii Kai Coach: There’s Just Something About Basketball
By Jack Danilewicz
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Hawaii Pacific University athletic director Darren Vorderbruegge took a two-year break from coaching men’s basketball, but only in the physical sense. In mind-set, at least, he never left the coaching profession.
“(I missed) the relationships you have with the young men (as a coach),” said Vorderbruegge. “Basketball is unique in that. I coached golf, which I enjoyed, but there is a dynamic in the culture of basketball. There’s a level of intensity that I missed. I am looking forward to that.”
Vorderbruegge came to HPU in 2006 following highly successful stints at both the prep and college level, most recently at Northwest Missouri State, where he was head coach for six seasons.
After taking over as HPU’s head coach in 2006, he was promoted a year later to AD, and the school brought Tony Sellitto out of retirement for two seasons to once again be the Sea Warriors’ head men’s basketball coach. Then on March 6 Vorderbruegge reclaimed the head job and will now hold both positions.
He brings 23 years of high school and college coaching experience back to the sidelines at HPU. His collegiate basketball coaching record as an assistant and head coach is 164-91. Prior to joining HPU, “Coach V” as he is known around campus, spent six seasons coaching at Northwest Missouri State University. As associate head coach, he was instrumental in the national recognition achieved by the Northwest Bearcats who, during his tenure, advanced to the NCAA DII Elite Eight twice and reached the Sweet Sixteen twice. Coach V, who lives in Hawaii Kai with his wife, Amy, and their three children, recently took some time away from his schedule to answer some questions for the East Oahu Islander.
What’s your earliest sports-related memory? Playing baseball at 5 and being in right field and not paying attention. My dad yelled at me to wake up and pay attention.
Who has had the biggest impact on you in your life? I am an only child, so my relationship with my parents had the biggest impact on who I am. Professionally, I worked with a coach named Steve Tappmeyer at Northwest Missouri State who had a big impact on me.
When you have time away from the office, how do you spend it? Definitely running the (hiking) trails. I really enjoy the trails in Hawaii. I paddle as well, and I like to bike.
What is the one thing you cannot live without in your daily life? Talking to my wife. I have to communicate with her each day at some point. We’ve been married for 22 years now.
If you had only one channel on your television, what would it be? Probably The History Channel. I would say ESPN, but I can get a lot of sports in my life with my day job. We watch a lot of The History Channel.
What Internet site do you frequent the most? At home I play Pandora a lot - especially when working around the house. It’s like a personal radio station.
What is your least favorite household chore? It’s cooking. I don’t cook much because it’s my least favorite chore. To me, cooking is such a waste of time. It takes an hour to cook and then you eat it in 10 minutes. I would rather clean than cook.
What movie could you watch over and over? The African Queen with Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. I don’t like to watch movies twice.
What’s in your iPod? The Eagles, The Beatles, Bruce Hornsby and Bob Seger. You can throw in some country (music), too, like Brad Paisley. I brought a little (music from) Kansas with me, a little of my roots.
When you want to eat out in Hawaii Kai, where do you take the family? I love Mexican food. In Hawaii Kai, we tend to go to the Kona Brewing Company in Koko Marina. We always order the (hors d’oeuvres) tomato, mozzarella and basil.
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