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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, April 20, 2009

'Iolani promotes longtime assistant

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Dean Shimamoto was introduced as 'Iolani School's new boys basketball coach at the team's postseason banquet last night in Kapahulu.

The 32-year-old Shimamoto — a 1994 'Iolani graduate and varsity assistant coach since 2001 — will replace Mark "Doc" Mugiishi, who retired two weeks ago after 20 largely successful seasons. Under Mugiishi, the Raiders won seven state championships (including five straight from 2002 through 2006) and 10 Interscholastic League of Honolulu titles (including six straight from 2001 through 2006).

'Iolani has qualified for the past 14 state tournaments.

Co-athletic director Eddie Maruyama said Adam Wong, another longtime assistant and Shimamoto's classmate, will remain on staff and Mugiishi will serve as a "consultant."

Shimamoto and Wong both played on 'Iolani's 1994 state championship team, the first title won by Mugiishi.

"The great thing about it is that Doc will still be involved," Shimamoto told The Advertiser last night. "We can continue to do what we've been doing and inject some of the new things we want to try and make the program even better."

Shimamoto, who runs his own Web development company, was an assistant coach in 'Iolani's intermediate level programs for six years before moving up to the varsity.

Shimamoto said the process to find Mugiishi's replacement was not open to the public.

Longtime assistants Bernie Ching and Cal Hashimoto — who were on Mugiishi's staff since his first season in 1989-90 — also announced their retirement.

Shimamoto said he and Wong may name other assistants later.

Mugiishi, 49, announced his retirement on April 6, citing increased work and community responsibilities. He is a practicing surgeon, director of surgical medicine at Kuakini Medical Center and an assistant professor at the University of Hawai'i's John A. Burns School of Medicine, in addition to other business and community endeavors.

The past two years, Mugiishi assigned Shimamoto and Wong more of the basketball responsibilities, including daily practices and the summer league program.

"I was involved mostly with the offense, and Adam had the defense," Shimamoto said.

Mugiishi had an overall record of 463-125 in 20 seasons as head coach, which included many games against nationally ranked Mainland programs. He guided the Raiders to 16 state tournament berths overall.

Shimamoto said he has been prepared for the high expectations that are sure to follow him.

"We've seen it, not as a head coach, but we've been through it (as assistants)," Shimamoto said. "But I think we have a good core of players and parents coming back, so it'll be OK."

Shimamoto noted that next year's team will be "the first in a while," without any players who won a state title.

"It's like starting over," he said.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.