Former Mustang To Lead SHA Lancers
As Ryan Hogue sat and listened to Sacred Hearts Academy officials outline their vision for the school’s athletic program, the message sounded familiar and much to his liking.
“Sacred Hearts provides all of the things that I want in a place,” said Hogue, who recently was named the school’s new athletic director. “The school has made a real commitment to raising the level of its athletic program to that of its academic program. There is a lot of tradition, and it knows who it is as a school.”
Hogue, a former Kalaheo High School and University of Hawaii-Hilo standout, was most recently assistant dean of students and athletic director at Academy of the Pacific. During his tenure at AOP, the boys basketball team qualified for three state tournaments. Hogue succeeds Wade Okamura, who is retiring after a 30-year run at the school. Hogue officially begins his duties June 17.
“I hope I can follow what he has done and build upon it,” Hogue said. “I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity.”
Added Sacred Hearts Academy head Betty White: “We welcome Ryan’s athletic expertise and look forward to further developing our athletic programs under his leadership.”
Hogue will oversee 21 sports at the Kaimuki Catholic school, which has about 500 high school students and educates girls from grades 3 through 12.
Hogue considers the arrangement ideal for building strong athletic programs. “To have the ability to start a student in your programs in fourth grade is a dream.
It allows you to begin putting in skeletons of your (varsity) system. To have a kid go all the way through your program from fourth grade to high school is great.”
Sacred Hearts, which is the largest and oldest all-girls school in the state, also is in the midst of a $5 million upgrade and expansion of its athletic facilities, made possible by the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation. Nearly $1 million is being spent this summer alone on improvements, including a new playing surface, bleachers, two locker rooms and a training room. The school also has the use of three additional outdoor courts, which recently were completed.
“I will be evaluating the whole program to see what our coaches’ philosophies are and to come up with a plan on how to help them,” noted the lifelong Kailua resident. Hogue was a four-year starter at UH-Hilo under Jeff Law, helping the school to its first-ever NCAA Division II tournament appearance in 2003. He also has a master’s degree in education from UH Manoa. At Kalaheo, he was an All-State selection in basketball and volleyball.
His arrangement at Sacred Hearts also allows him to coach. “Basketball has done a lot for me as far as the opportunities I’ve received. It taught me life skills, and I’d like to be able to pass that on to our girls. Coaching is a passion for me.”
Hogue envisions organizing youth basketball camps at the school, among other activities.
