Lou Yango, who coached Island Pacific Academy’s track & field and cross country programs from 2008-2013, has passed away peacefully after a long illness in the company of family in California. Yango moved to Oahu for a so-called retirement after coaching for over 30 years in California.
Yango gives advice to IPA runners before their races in 2012.
Under his guidance dozens of IPA athletes improved their skills and lowered their times. Navigator runners coached by Yango medaled in Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH) championships and made multiple appearances at state-level competitions.
Yango was honored as “Coach of the Week” in 2011 by KSSK for his excellence in developing runners. Yango is shown on the left with KSSK’s Sweetie Pacarro and on the right with Kelsi Teramae (‘13).
“Lou was integral to the success and growth of IPA’s programs,” says Colleen Carrington, former IPA Assistant Athletic Director and now ILH’s Pac-5 Assistant Athletic Director.
Lou Yango, Jennifer Borzilleri (‘14), and Ron Tsuchiya (IPA Athletic Director) in 2012.
“He was so patient with the kids and helped them develop a higher level of teamwork and collaboration. And he was the one that got them (our runners) to drink chocolate milk as a recovery drink, he was ahead of that trend and he was right,” says Carrington.
Lou Yango (in back row with white hat) with IPA’s 2012 Track team.
Former IPA faculty member and fellow cross country coach, Ben Murphy, says, “Lou was very tech savvy and aware. He was always looking things up on the internet and buying new gadgets to see if some new technology could help the kids decrease their times. He was aware of what the kids needed, what he could give to them, what others could give, and what the kids themselves could do to improve.”
Yango will be remembered for his friendly personality and practices full of laughter that put runners at ease. His tireless efforts built a cross country and running program at IPA that has continually inspired young runners at all levels, intermediate through varsity.
