Optimistic Charger Coach Sees Balance, Talent, Good Help

Wednesday - May 31, 2006
By Jack Danilewicz
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For the Pearl City High football team, the road to an Oahu Interscholastic Association White conference championship runs through the classroom, and that’s a point that’s non-negotiable, according to first-year head football coach Mel Bicoy.

“They have to be good students (to be a part of the Chargers football program),” said Bicoy. “If it doesn’t start there, then it’ hard to get it done on the field. We’ve been stressing success in the classroom first. You can take your (football) schemes even deeper when you have players who are striving in the classroom.”


The by-product of a head coaching change is usually a period of transition, but Bicoy is confident that the Chargers will be in full stride when they officially begin fall practice on July 31. Pearl City began spring practice last week and will conclude its workouts this week with a scrimmage open to the public at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Chargers’ football stadium. Under OIA rules, Pearl City is allotted 14 days to conduct 10 practices. The Chargers were to begin full contact drills this past Monday.

Bicoy, who has been an assistant varsity coach since 1978, has added a new staff. But he is a teacher at Pearl City High, which he attributes to easing the transition.

“It’s been good. As a teacher on campus, I have a lot of them in class, so we know each other. There’s been a positive change in attitude. The community has been very supportive, and I’ve been blessed to get a lot of good assistant coaches.”

Among the new staff members are offensive coordinator Russell Cabato and defensive coordinator Cajo Cabato.

“Effective coaching is teaching, and those guys do a great job of not only teaching our athletes , but our coaches, too.”

Spring drills have been all-consuming for Bicoy, who is at school by 6 a.m. on a typical day, and who often doesn’t arrive at home until 8 p.m. following coaches’ meetings.

“My biggest supporter has always been my wife,” he added. “She’s a team mom.”

The Chargers are hoping to reverse their on-field fortunes in the fall, having gone 1-5 in the White last season after an 0-6 season in 2004.

“Our work ethic has been excellent. The kids have been willing to put in the time and effort. We’ve had 40 to 50 kids coming to our off-season workouts, going back to March and April. They’re understanding what ‘team’ is really all about. Like a lot of other programs, we’ve been running the JV and varsity (practices) together and it’s been really positive. The younger kids look up to the older guys, they see them as role models, and that gives them more drive.”

The Chargers’ offense will have a different look in the fall as well with the implementation of the West Coast offense.

“There are a number of things we can do because of the people we have at the skilled positions. We can come out with a balanced attack.”

A pair of senior running backs - Micah Abreu-Laybon and Micah Dela Cruz - will be featured in the new scheme.

“Abreu-Laybon is running strong. He has speed, but he’s a power runner. Dela Cruz is more of a ‘scat back.‘He can get to the outside, and he hits the hole quick.”


Behind center, Bicoy is looking at a pair of quarterbacks in junior Kawika Borden and sophomore Skye Kaapuni.

On the other side of the ball, Shane Gaspar will anchor the defensive line for the Chargers with Zach Teves and Kevin Costa heading the linebacker corps. Bryson Costales and Gavin Tanaka highlight the secondary.

“Defensively, we’re going to be quick,” Bicoy said.“Cajo (Cabato) is an excellent defensive coordinator who is good at disguising looks.We won’t be the biggest defense, but we’ll be quick.”

Pearl City’s tradition of great soccer is a big boost to the football program’s prospects for good special teams, according to Bicoy.

“It’s nice they have a solid (soccer) program,” he said.“We always try to get a few of those kids to come out. We think we’ll be fine in the kicking game.

“Our biggest concern right now would be remaining injury-free,” he added. “There were some serious injuries last year, so we have to keep the athletes healthy and in great shape. The spring will give us a good evaluation of our athletes.”

The Chargers’ pre-season opener is set for Aug. 198 against Anuenue Hawaiian charter school.

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