Norman Kaluhiokalani, commonly known as Coach K, first started working at BYU-Hawaii 40 years ago and has left a legacy of coaching for the cross country, soccer, and rugby teams that have played here. His last name, Kaluhiokalani, means in Hawaiian, “One who helps much for many without asking for any admiration.”Because of his passion for running in high school, Coach K decided he would “give it to other people so they could have a passion and continue running.” He said, “I liked that freedom of running. You could be your own individual or you could be part of a team.”Coach K was born in Kaneohe back when he said it was banana fields and cow pastures, but he didn’t intend to stay there. He joined the Navy for two years after he graduated from high school. After traveling the world, he came back because of his love for Hawaii and attended BYUH, with a major in physical education. He met his wife, Laverne, while he attended BYUH. The two both converted to the LDS Church. When asked why he joined, he said with a smile, “The church was true and we just knew it.” The couple got married in the Laie Temple in August of 1969. Coach K continued going to school but came back for a job teaching at BYUH in the Exercise and Sports Science. He has taught many classes over the years like community health, internship classes, referee and more. “You name it, I claim it,” he said with a laugh. “I’ve taught most classes in my area at BYU-Hawaii.”The cross-country team started again in the 1970s, and Coach K began coaching them. “It was an enjoyment of social life,” he said, “and it’s different from other sports. You get to meet the people, you get to meet the cultures, and when you go and you have a competition, you have a pretty good bunch of people with you.”Veronica Bellison, an exercise and sports science senior from California who ran in cross country, shared one thing she remembers from Coach K was lokahi: “He wants us to focus on athletics and our running, but also focus on our schoolwork and most importantly our spirit.” Ryan Belliston, a senior majoring in marketing from Ohio and a runner in Coach K’s cross country team, said he admired Coach K.One thing he enjoyed was how he liked to tell jokes, such as, “Make sure you bring the right shoes to practice, but also bring the left shoe,” and “Every step you take in the race makes it shorter.” Bellison also said, “I look up to Coach K because of his humility.” Coach K has had one motto that he has kept to through his time in the Navy, at school, and while teaching here: Whoever is captain of the ship, they are in charge. You follow one captain to do one thing, and when a new one comes in, you have to adapt to it.“My 40 years has gone by quick. I’ve enjoyed my work; enjoyed my students. I’ve had a lot of enjoyment in my life,” said Coach K. Coach K said about his students that he hoped “they can go on and improve the education that they got here and be better than me.”Uploaded March 25, 2015
Writer: Rachel Reed
