Hernandez Touts ‘Learning Environment’ For Hurricanes

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Kapolei head football coach Darren
Hernandez looks ahead to fall. Photo
from ReplayImages.

It didn’t take long for the Kapolei football program to have an impact in the Oahu Interscholastic Association.Although the program is only entering its fifth year,the Hurricanes have established themselves as one of the more visible operations around.

With fall camp set to begin July 31, head coach Darren Hernandez took a break from his busy schedule to answer questions from MidWeek.

Who had the biggest impact on you in your life?

[Darren] I met my wife, Brenda, when we were both teenagers. She has, by far, been the most positive influence on my life. We have been through a lot together, and she has always been there for me. We have been blessed raising two wonderful kids together. My wife has always encouraged me to pursue my dreams, to work hard, and to not be afraid to fail. Most importantly, she helps me to keep things in perspective - to remember what’s most important. In life, as in football, it’s not the wins and losses that count, it’s the way we play that really matters most.

Of all the things one can do with his time,what influenced you to take on the responsibilities of running a varsity program,first at Campbell and now at Kapolei?

I love the game of football, and I love working with kids. Coaching football - both the X’s and O’s and the ability to positively influence kids - is a dream job for me. I still get the “jitters"the day before our first practice and at the beginning of a new season and before every game!

Who would you consider your “mentor” in terms of how you go about running your football program?

I learned a lot from former University of Hawaii defensive coordinator Rich Ellerson, now the head coach at Cal Poly University. I learned from him to always be passionate, enthusiastic and to appreciate the game. I also learned from the legendary Cal Lee through coaching under him in Arena football. Cal has shown me the importance of organization, planning, meetings, and recognizing and capitalizing on the strengths of both coaches and players.

Although one cannot openly recruit at the high school level, you are still free to sell your program to the community in an effort to attract kids. What are the benefits of playing football at Kapolei?

Kapolei High School offers a positive learning environment and puts a high priority on being both a scholar and an athlete. We have a ONE TEAM philosophy that we hold dear, and it is the cornerstone of our athletic programs. It also doesn’t hurt that we have the most outstanding athletic facilities in the OIA.

What were your priorities as you entered spring practice and how do you feel about your progress in that regard?

The priority for spring was to evaluate new and returning players and to get them motivated as we move into the summer pass league. Spring practice, including an intra-squad scrimmage, underscored our potential strengths and weaknesses and what we need to work on during the summer.

As you enter your fourth year at Kapolei, have you changed your approach in how you go about things?

I have not really changed my approach since we first started the program with a team consisting solely of freshmen. We are now going into our fifth varsity season. Consistency in team standards, expectations on and off the field, and work ethic are always important for a successful team.

The game has changed significantly over the last decade, particularly in light of the innovative offensive concepts we have seen in the college game (Clemson, Hawaii, Northwestern, Navy, etc.). Have these schemes influenced your own thoughts on offensive football?

Our philosophy on offense is to be balanced, explosive, and high scoring. We have taken a page out of various systems, and have tried to implement parts we feel best fit our personnel.We try to tailor our offensive system to our personnel on a yearly basis. We may run the ball more if we have more runners and a bigger, stronger line; or we may pass frequently if we have a bunch of good receivers and a QB that can get it there consistently.

A coach’s approach often comes by way of the position he played himself. As a former linebacker/defensive lineman, do you have more of a defensive mind-set as a head coach?

As a former defensive player,there is no doubt that I put a premium on having a strong defense.Defense wins championships. We want to be known as a formidable defensive opponent week in and week out and year in and year out. We are not there yet, but we are working hard and striving to get there.

I know you are excited about the people you have at quarterback, especially senior Aaron Santiago. How would you assess their progress coming out of spring practice?

We have had great success with the quarterback position in our short history, because we put a premium on it. We have played as a varsity for only four years, yet we have put two quarterbacks into Division I football - Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada at Navy, and Brad Padayao at Air Force. We are quite proud of that fact. We obviously want good athletes at the position, but we also look for leaders and student-athletes who are able to carry the team when we need them to.

We have a good situation at quarterback. (Senior) Aaron Santiago has the smarts, speed, arm strength and decision-making ability to be outstanding. He will make a lot of plays for us this year.We have other athletes that can also play quarterback. (Junior) Mason Koa has all the physical tools, but needs to mature and get better with his decision making, while (sophomore) Keli’i Tolentino has a good arm,and is learning a lot from pass league.