Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Wednesday, February 16, 2000
Derby ends long
reign as Iolani
girls’ soccer coach
The kindergarten teacher
By Dave Reardon
will continue to get her kicks
--in the boxing ring
Star-BulletinWhen George-Ann Derby began coaching soccer at Iolani 22 years ago, the prospective players --among the first girls attending the previously all-boys school -- had little or no experience.
"I think they just wanted to get out of P.E.," Derby said.
"They wanted to know if they had to run, if they could get out of P.E., and if they could have black leather team jackets.
"The answers were yes, yes and no," she said. "And we went from there."
Derby, 60, retires after 17 years as the Iolani varsity girls' head coach. The kindergarten teacher led the Red Raiders to three state titles and nine Interscholastic League of Honolulu championships along the way.
"I'll still teach, but now I'll have time to pursue my hobby, kickboxing, and paddle again," Derby said. "But I will miss the girls and the interaction. I taught a lot of them in kindergarten and then coached them, and saw them get full rides (to play soccer in college."
Iolani athletic director Carl Schroers said Derby will be missed.
"She's been a rock," Schroers said. "She cares deeply for children and continues to as they grow up. She cares deeply about soccer. I have the highest regard for her."
Said Kamehameha coach Michelle Nagamine: "George-Ann has always been very classy -- a gracious winner and a gracious loser. Iolani's success has been the end result of her personal dedication to the kids."
Schroers said there is no timetable on choosing a successor.
Kari Morioka could be a possibility.
Morioka, a former player under Derby, was her co-coach during last year's state championship run and also this season as Iolani went 8-2-2 in the ILH but did not qualify for the state tournament.
