Mann resigns as head coach
after 8 years at Kaiser

Lisa Mann lives and breathes basketball.

Aside from a brief hiatus before she arrived at Kaiser, the former high-school standout and University of Hawaii forward was a player or coach for the past 32 years. As of this week, however, Mann is neither.

Mann resigned as head coach at Kaiser after eight seasons at the helm. In all, she was a coach for 18 seasons at Kaimuki, University and Kaiser.

"There are opportunities at work that I'd like to look at that I haven't because of coaching," said Mann, who works for the Honolulu Police Department. "I'm leaving happy. I enjoyed it. I've had good kids, good parents and good administration. And I've had a great coaching staff."

One of her assistant coaches, Gary Sai, will get a break, too. "Gary is going to spend time watching his daughter Johanna play (for Kamehameha)," Mann added.

Mann began playing the game at 7 and hasn't stopped except for a one-year break after coaching at University. The timing was right for a hiatus.

"I am looking forward to it, actually. I talked with some other former coaches, and I'm pretty sure I'll miss it," she said.

Kaiser reached the championship game of the Oahu Interscholastic Association playoffs this season. At the state championships, the Lady Cougars lost to Honokaa, which went on to finish third. Kaiser defeated Kalani and Farrington to win the consolation crown.

The Lady Cougars, paced by seniors Nicole Lehner, Kilioe Aliifua and Kehau Bangay, and junior standout Sharde Pratt, finished at No. 8 in the Star-Bulletin Girls Basketball Top 10.

Mann missed exactly one day of practice after undergoing back surgery during the regular season, but that isn't a factor in her decision. She won't rule out returning sooner than later.

"I'm resigning, not retiring. I'm still young. I'm only 39," she said.

Mann considers herself fortunate. "I'm going to miss working with the kids. Most of the kids are a lot of fun and I've always enjoyed that. They're there because they want to be," she said.

"There's a lot of time involved, and your life revolves around it. Sometimes that was very challenging, but I enjoyed it."

Mann is the second OIA East coach to resign since the season ended. Kahuku's Wendy Anae stepped down recently to pursue educational and coaching opportunities in Utah.