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In the blink of an eye, one of Farrington’s finest basketball players is now the boys basketball head coach.
Jacob McEnroe woke up to sweet music on Monday, learning from longtime athletic director Harold Tanaka that he was chosen from a short list of three finalists.
“Surreal. Going from the OIA my whole life to one year at Kamehameha (as an assistant), I learned a whole lot,” McEnroe said. “I love Kamehameha. It’s a great atmosphere and I love the people there. At the end of the day, Farrington is home.”
The transition should be relatively smooth.
“I know the families. The majority of the kids were on my teams (at Kalakaua Prodigy basketball club). I also teach there, so I know their teachers,” McEnroe noted. “I have a program I ran with the JV. I know the responsibilities, the preseason scheduling, summer league and I can reach out to older mentors.”
McEnroe replaces Sol Batoon, who guided the program for three seasons.
It was 2014 when McEnroe was the key player on a Farrington squad that won the OIA championship. With Allan Silva as head coach and Rocky Sauer as an assistant, the Governors were seeded second in the HHSAA state championships. They edged Mililani, then Maryknoll to earn a spot in the state final against top-seeded ‘Iolani.
With 6-foot-9 center Hugh Hogland, the Raiders prevailed, 43-40, at Blaisdell Arena. McEnroe was an All-State selection and named to the Hawaii Hall of Honor before playing at HPU. He graduated with a degree in psychology.
Guiding young students and student-athletes is his calling. In 2021, he began working in the Alternate Learning Opportunities program at Farrington. In ’22, McEnroe began coaching with Kalakaua Prodigy youth basketball club, which has players as young as sixth grade, as well as the boys program at Farrington.
Later, he helped with the girls team, and this year, Kamehameha.
Now that he has a chance to lead the Governors and ignite a new generation.
“Habits. Their mentality of playing. I see a majority of kids who play just to play, not playing for a reason,” he said. “We have so much potential from KPT, Kam IV( Kamehameha IV housing project) and the Kalakaua area,” he said.
A few years ago, Clay Sorayama of Lanakila basketball club coached at Farrington, leading the JV boys to an unbeaten season. He is now helping at Punahou.
“Now he is on the ILH side,” McEnroe said. “Nobody was working with the younger ones in development and character, how to get them bought into, for example, Prodigy.”
A throwback style familiar to longtime Farrington fans will be in play.
“How I played as a player was run and gun. Because of our community, we have a lot of Filipinos who love basketball, a lot of Polynesians who are athletic, we’ve got to run,” McEnroe said. “We’re not a system program. The past few years, we’ve been undersized, but if we’re in condition and we keep running, that mental part kicks in.”
The traditional diamond fullcourt press under the late Harry Pacarro worked with deep five-in, five-out platooning. McEnroe has a mix of defensive wrinkles.
“I’m more of a defensive player first. Defense is about energy,” he said.
McEnroe, 29, is committed to building bonds with his players.
“Coaching is a full-time job. You have to put in the time to understand the relationship with the boys and their parents. If you have the parents’ trust, that’s the biggest thing. I’m open to communicating and everything.”
Summer leagues are tipping off soon.
“I’m going to figure out gym time and availability first, then which summer league to put them in,” he said. “The main goal for me is to keep the kids accountable. No excuses. There are a lot of bad influences, but that’s the fun part of being a coach. Being a role model.”
Hawaii Prep World
For high school sports record books, visit .
Continue reading...
Jacob McEnroe woke up to sweet music on Monday, learning from longtime athletic director Harold Tanaka that he was chosen from a short list of three finalists.
“Surreal. Going from the OIA my whole life to one year at Kamehameha (as an assistant), I learned a whole lot,” McEnroe said. “I love Kamehameha. It’s a great atmosphere and I love the people there. At the end of the day, Farrington is home.”
The transition should be relatively smooth.
“I know the families. The majority of the kids were on my teams (at Kalakaua Prodigy basketball club). I also teach there, so I know their teachers,” McEnroe noted. “I have a program I ran with the JV. I know the responsibilities, the preseason scheduling, summer league and I can reach out to older mentors.”
McEnroe replaces Sol Batoon, who guided the program for three seasons.
It was 2014 when McEnroe was the key player on a Farrington squad that won the OIA championship. With Allan Silva as head coach and Rocky Sauer as an assistant, the Governors were seeded second in the HHSAA state championships. They edged Mililani, then Maryknoll to earn a spot in the state final against top-seeded ‘Iolani.
With 6-foot-9 center Hugh Hogland, the Raiders prevailed, 43-40, at Blaisdell Arena. McEnroe was an All-State selection and named to the Hawaii Hall of Honor before playing at HPU. He graduated with a degree in psychology.
Guiding young students and student-athletes is his calling. In 2021, he began working in the Alternate Learning Opportunities program at Farrington. In ’22, McEnroe began coaching with Kalakaua Prodigy youth basketball club, which has players as young as sixth grade, as well as the boys program at Farrington.
Later, he helped with the girls team, and this year, Kamehameha.
Now that he has a chance to lead the Governors and ignite a new generation.
“Habits. Their mentality of playing. I see a majority of kids who play just to play, not playing for a reason,” he said. “We have so much potential from KPT, Kam IV( Kamehameha IV housing project) and the Kalakaua area,” he said.
A few years ago, Clay Sorayama of Lanakila basketball club coached at Farrington, leading the JV boys to an unbeaten season. He is now helping at Punahou.
“Now he is on the ILH side,” McEnroe said. “Nobody was working with the younger ones in development and character, how to get them bought into, for example, Prodigy.”
A throwback style familiar to longtime Farrington fans will be in play.
“How I played as a player was run and gun. Because of our community, we have a lot of Filipinos who love basketball, a lot of Polynesians who are athletic, we’ve got to run,” McEnroe said. “We’re not a system program. The past few years, we’ve been undersized, but if we’re in condition and we keep running, that mental part kicks in.”
The traditional diamond fullcourt press under the late Harry Pacarro worked with deep five-in, five-out platooning. McEnroe has a mix of defensive wrinkles.
“I’m more of a defensive player first. Defense is about energy,” he said.
McEnroe, 29, is committed to building bonds with his players.
“Coaching is a full-time job. You have to put in the time to understand the relationship with the boys and their parents. If you have the parents’ trust, that’s the biggest thing. I’m open to communicating and everything.”
Summer leagues are tipping off soon.
“I’m going to figure out gym time and availability first, then which summer league to put them in,” he said. “The main goal for me is to keep the kids accountable. No excuses. There are a lot of bad influences, but that’s the fun part of being a coach. Being a role model.”
Hawaii Prep World
For high school sports record books, visit .
Continue reading...
