2010 Asics Rainbows Coaches
Coach Luis Ramirez: Coach Luis is the Club's Director and is the Head Coach of the 18U Black and 17U Black teams, which are both invitation only teams. He was a member of the Dominican Republic National Team and is a certified FIVB Levell II coach. He also played collegiate volleyball at Menlo College and has established a quick and exciting style of volleyball at the Asics Rainbows. His Boys Varsity Volleyball Team at Iolani School won the 2003 ILH Boys Volleyball Championship and the 2003 Boys Volleyball State Championship. He was named the 2003 Coach of the Year. In his five years at Iolani, his teams went 82-8. In 2005, his Asics Rainbows 15U girls team won the National Championships at the USAV Junior Olympics. In 2007, his Asics Rainbows 14U team also won the National Championship at the USAV Juniior Olympics. In 2008 and 2009, his Asics team (15U in 2008 and 16U in 2009) went an amazing 44-0 (sets) in two national qualifiers, winning the Far Western Qualifer in Reno, Nevada finishing 1st out of 120 teams by winning 22 straight sets without a loss and then repeating this feat (22-0) the next year in 2009 winning the SCVA Anaheim qualifer finishing 1st out of 92 teams. In 2010, his 17U team went 9-1 at the Las Vegas Invitational winning the Silver Diviision Championship and also went 21-3 at the Far Western Qualifier in Reno winning the Silver Medal. Some of his club accomplishments include a number of National Championships, National Qualifier Championships, many Aloha Region Championships and many of his players have made National Teams, High Performance Teams and of course have gone on to play at Division I and Division II schools. Just about every player who has played for Coach Luis has received at least one Division I scholarship offer.
Coach Todd Blankenship: Coach Todd is the Head Coach for the Asics Rainbows 17U Green Team and is an Assistant Coach on the Asics Rainbows 17U Black team. Coach Todd is a young coach but he already has extensive coaching experience; He is currently a volunteer Assistant Coach at Chaminade University. In addition, he was the Manager for the University of Arizona Men's Team; Assistant Coach for the Salpointe Catholic High School Boy's team (Tucson, Arizona)' Assistant Coach for the University of Arizona Women's Club "A" Team; Head Coach of the Arizona Premier Volleyball 17-1 Boys team; Head Coach, University of Arizona Women's Club "A" Team; Head Coach for Salpointe Catholic High School Boys Freshman Volleyball Team; Head Coach for University of Arizona Women's Club "B" Team; and Assistant Coach for Club Cactus Boys 18-1 Team. Coach Todd also played volleyball at Iolani School where he won a ILH Championship and State Championship under Coach Luis. He also played for the Asics Rainbows under Coach Luis.
Coach James "Miko" Blake: Coach “Miko” as he’s known is the Head Coach for the Asics Rainbows 14U team. He played rugby in Tonga and New Zealand. During his rugby career Coach Miko represented his country on the International level, migrated to Hawaii to attend BYU-Hawaii and was instrumental in winning three Hawaii Rugby Union Champions, and was named “MVP” and twice “Most Inspirational” player. Coach Miko started coaching volleyball after getting married to his wife Bonnie Blake who was a standout volleyball player here in Hawaii. Their coaching career started together and has been almost identical since 1992 with him being the assistant and conditioning coach for the Kamehameha JV White team. During the 2008 High School volleyball season he became the Head Coach for the Kahuku Girls Blue Team which finished third, and lost to Moanalua for the Championship in 2009. He also was fortunate to assist Coach Luis with the Asics Rainbows 17’s Black in 2009. Coach Miko acknowledges the interesting transformation from rugby to volleyball. “It seemed complicated at first but being around the sport and indulging myself with volleyball information and with my own experiences as a rugby player, there are three things that are obvious to be successful in any sport: footwork, fundamentals, and desire.”
Coach Bonnie Blake: Coach Bonnie Blake is the Assistant for the Asics Rainbows 14U team. Coach Bonnie played her club volleyball with “Kamalii” under the legendary “Mr. O”. She was named to the Hawaii All State selection from Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus in high school, selected All American four years at BYU-Hawaii 1986-1989, won two NAIA national titles 86-87, named to the All Tournament teams 86/87/89, received a All District Academic award 87, made the All District 4 Team 1986-1989: “MVP” awards for BYU-Hawaii, her jersey number 2 is retired at BYU-Hawaii, District 4 “Player of the Year” senior season 1989, represented Tonga as a player and Coach 1993-1994. Coach Bonnie started coaching for the Kamehameha JV White team 1992: Head Coach Tokomololo Club Team 93: Head Coach for Men’s & Women’s Tonga National Teams 93-94: Head Coach McKinley Varsity Boy’s 95: Head Coach Maui High School Girls Varsity team 2000-2004: Head Coach and Club Director for “Kamalii o Manaloa Maui” 2001-2002: Head Coach North Shore 14’s B & D, and Assistant Coach North Shore 16’s 2005-2006: Head Coach Kahuku Girls JV 2007: Assistant Coach Kahuku Girls Blue Team 2008-2009.
Coach Bernie Oleole: Coach Bernie is an Assistant Coach for the Asics Rainbows 17s Black team. She is a prominent and well respected coach in Hawaii. In 2009, she was the Head Coach of the Asics Rainbows 16U Green Team. From 2004 to 2006, she was the Head Coach for the Jammers 13U team which placed 3rd at the Far Western Qualifier in Reno, Nevada. From 2002 to 2004, she was the Head Coach for the Jammers 12U team which won the Ho'oikaika Tournamenton Kauai in 2004. She also assisted coaching the Jammers 12U teams for 4 years prior to becoming the Head Coach of the 12U team. She began playing volleyball at age 7 and continued playing competively until 1997.
Coach Blaine Gier: Coach Blaine is the Head Coach for the Asics Rainbows 12 U team. He has been the Maryknoll School Boys Varsity Volleyball Coach for a number of years. In 2002, he was the ILH Coach of the Year. He was also the Head Baskeball Coach for the Maryknoll Boys team since 1999. Since 1995, he was Head of Maryknoll's physical education department. He was also the Coordinator for the Boys Basketball program and tthe Boys Volleyball Program at Maryknoll. He played basketball for 4 years at the College of Notre Dame in California. He is a graduate of Maryknoll and the College of Notre Dame in California.
Coach Hoku Oleole: Coach Hoku is an Assistant Coach for the Asics Rainbows 17U Black team. In 2009, she was an assistant coach for the Maryknoll Girls Varsity Volleyball team. In 2008, she was an assistant Coach for the Asics Rainbows 17U Green team. In 2008, she also "redshirted" at the University of Hawaii at Hilo before becoming an Assistant Coach for the Roosevelt High School Girls Varsity Volleyall team. She plays Women's Club volleyball for High Life Volleyball Club. In 2009, she briefly played for the Maui Volleyball club at the Haili Volleyball tournament. She played varsity volleyball for Roosevelt High School where she was one ot the team captains and Roosevelt won the 2007 OIA championship. She has played volleyball since she was 7 years old and played for Kamali'i Volleyball Club, Lokahi Volleyball Club, Oahu Volleyball Club, Jammers Volleyball Club and Hi-Intensity Volleyball Club.
Coach Mahea Burgess: Coach Mahea is an assistant coach for the Asics Rainbows 18U Black team. She was the Head Coach for Azusa Pacific University. She also played Setter for Azusa Pacific University and holds the records for most assists (85) in a single match (against Concordia). In 2001, as a Junior she was named to the all-tournament team of the 18th Sunbird Invitational volleyball tournament in Fresno, California. In 2002 she also set the record for most assists (4569) in four years from 1999 to 2002 until it was recenlty broken in 2007. She was also Head Coach for the Lutheran High School Trojans in California. She was also an Assistant Coach with the Bridges Volleyball Club in California. She is a 1999 graduate of University High School.
Coach Taryn J. Horner: Coach Taryn is an assistant coach for the Asics Rainbows 18U Black team. Coach Taryn is another one of our young coaches with extensive coaching experience. From August 2005 to July 2008, she was the Head Coach for the Girls and Boys Volleyball teams at Judge Memorial Catholic High School, Salt Lake City, Utah. From 2003 to 2008, she was the Head Coach for the Girls and Boys Elite Volleyball teams for the High Country Volleyball teams in Utah. She coached one team to a Regional Championship and to the Junior Nationals. In 2005 and 2006, she was also the online Color commentator for University of Utah home volleyball matches. In 2004, she was a Student Assistant Volleyball Coach for the University of Utah. During the summers of 2004 to 2007, she was an Assistant Coach for the Intermountain USA High Performance Volleyball Youth Teams for International Tournaments in the United States and Slovenia, Austria and Italy. During the summers from 2001 to 2006, she also was the Assistant Camp Director for the University of Utah Volleyball Camps. From 2000 to 2003, she played college volleyball for the University of Utah. She was captain in 2003. In 2002 and 2003, she made the Intermountain High Performance Collegiate Volleyball Team. She also made the Mountain West Academic All Conference team in 2002 and 2003. In 2002, she was also on the varsity Diving team at the University of Utah. She has her Masters from the University of Hawaii in Educational Fundamentals with an emphasis in private school administration. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Utah in Exercise and Sport Science in May of 2005 (Specialty in Physical Education). In 2004, she was a Student Athlete Representative for the Athletics Advisory Committee at the University of Utah. She was also a Student Athlete Mentor from 2001 to 2004 as well as a member of the University of Utah Student Athlete Advisory Committee in 2002. Coach Taryn presently teaches in the Physical Education Department at Iolani School and is the Head Coach for the Intermediate Girls Volleyball team. She also taught physical education at Judge Memorial Catholic High School.