ISLAND PACIFIC ACADEMY Secondary science teacher Stan Vincent has been named recipient of the 2021 Hawaii Interscholastic Athletic Directors Association (HIADA) Outstanding Coaches Award in recognition for his successes and service as varsity volleyball Head Coach. The ceremony was held virtually this past June, and Vincent received his award last week from Deren Oshiro, President of HIADA.
The HIADA Outstanding Coaches Award is presented annually to active or retired coaches in recognition of outstanding achievement and long-term service to high school athletics in the state of Hawaiʻi at the school, league, and or state levels. The recipient must have a minimum of ten years of high school coaching experience in Hawaiʻi.
Vincent has spent more than 40 years coaching high school volleyball and his storied coaching career began in 1980 at his alma mater, Kamehameha Schools, where he became head coach of the Kamehameha JV team and assistant coach for the varsity team. He went on to serve as head coach for varsity boys and girls volleyball teams at Academy of the Pacific from 1984-2002. From 2012-2021, Vincent has held the position of Head Coach for the ISLAND PACIFIC ACADEMY varsity girls volleyball team, and has coached the varsity boys volleyball team for several seasons as well.
During his ten years at IPA, Vincentʻs accomplishments have piled up, with division championships and coach of the year awards. He has led the lady Navigators to five division championships, including three consecutive championship titles in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Vincent has been honored as the Interscholastic League of Hawaiʻi Division III coach of the year four times, in 2013, 2014, 2018, and 2019. In his final year, he led the Navigators to a perfect 7-0 season and their third consecutive ILH Division III championship.
“Coach Stan simply loves the game of volleyball. He would always ask me about the scores from the IPA intermediate games, or the boys games when he wasn’t coaching,” shared Greg Terhune, Director of Athletics. “Even now, after he stepped away from coaching the team, he is always asking about how they are doing, when their next game is and who they are playing. Stan will always be a part of the volleyball program here at IPA, and he is a large part of its success.”
“I lose track of how long I have been coaching but I know it’s over 37 years,” shares Vincent. “The reason I coach, I find it’s a natural extension of teaching. I love the interaction with the players like the students. It makes me feel alive, not necessarily young, but alive. I love the game of volleyball and feel very blessed to have been able to coach this long and have success doing it. However, the biggest reason I coach, as well as teach is it’s still FUN.”
As a Secondary science teacher at IPA since 2005, Vincent has always placed education first, and volleyball second. With a teaching career that has lasted almost 50 years, and a coaching career nearly as long, it’s hard to estimate how many student-athletes “Coach Stan” has influenced in the classroom and on the court. But without a doubt, his values, work ethic, and positive attitude will have a lasting impact on all of them.
“I would like to say a personal thank you, Coach Stan, for not only teaching and coaching me but for helping me develop into the person I am today,” shared Kaitlyn Taaca ʻ21. “ And thank you for all the sick dance moves I acquired from you. Congratulations Coach Stan!”
“Coach Stan has helped me to become a better person by teaching me skills that I can use on and off the volleyball court – leadership, resilience and determination are a few,” said Lawren Santana ‘21. “Thank you for all your years of dedication to teaching me in the classroom and coaching me on the court. You have made a positive impact in my life and you will ALWAYS have a special place in my heart. Coach Stan, you are truly the BEST and well deserving of this award. Congratulations!”
