Staff
DIRECTORS
Technical Director: Arian Hoxha
Director of Player Development: Sean Richardson
Director of Coaching Seniors: Steve Whitehouse
Director of Coaching Junior Boys: Stanley Fuller III
Director of Coaching Junior Girls: Travis Watanabe
Director of Coaching Youth Boys: Ross R. Higa
Director of Coaching Youth Girls: Robin Nakagawa
Director of Developmental Program: Aaron Libed
Director of Coaching Goalkeeping: Nico Arellano
DIRECTOR PROFILES
ARIAN HOXHA
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
USSF "A" LICENSE, ENGLISH FA LEVEL III, UEFA
BBA in Coaching from MetroState College of Denver, Colorado Rush Director of Coaching 1997-2006, Millennium Soccer School Director 1994-1998. Arian grew up in Albania and played there as a youth player. He also played collegiately for Metro State College of Denver.
SEAN RICHARDSON
DIRECTOR OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
USSF "B" LICENSE
Sean is one of the top local coaches with great experience in coaching youth soccer. Sean was the founder of Real Hawaii. He played collegiately and professionally. He is responsible for the development of Elite players in the club, and the "College Advisory" program.
STEVE WHITEHOUSE
DIRECTOR OF COACHING SENIORS
NSCAA PREMIER DIPLOMA
NSCAA NATIONAL YOUTH DIPLOMA
NSCAA ADVANCED NATIONAL GOALKEEPING DIPLOMA
Steve grew up in England, playing for youth programs of Leicestershire City and Blackburn Rovers. He played college soccer for TASC University of Leeds. Steve joins Hawaii Rush with 10 years of coaching experience, 7 of them as a DOC for Bartlett Hawks and Chicago Fire. Steve served as assistant women's coach and goalkeeper coach for Judson University.
STANLEY FULLER III
DIRECTOR OF COACHING JUNIOR BOYS
USSF "D" LICENSE
Stan is an experienced local coach that grew up playing locally. He has been coaching competitive club and high school level in Hawaii since 1996. Stan has extensive experience with youth players at all levels and ages. He is responsible for the Junior Boys Division and the "Blue Book" program.
TRAVIS WATANABE
DIRECTOR OF COACHING JUNIOR GIRLS
USSF "D" LICENSE
Travis is a young and motivated coach that brings a lot of experience from his teaching background when it comes to interacting with our young players. He grew up playing in Hawaii and has been coaching in various levels of competitive soccer as well as high school. He is responsible for the Junior Girls division and the "Special Training" program.
ROSS R HIGA
DIRECTOR OF COACHING YOUTH BOYS
USSF D LICENSE, NSCAA NATIONAL DIPLOMA, USYSA CERTIFIED, NSCAA GOALKEEPING LEVEL 1
Team head coach 1992 to present. State ODP staff 1999 to present. Ross has extensive experience with youth soccer at the AYSO, competitive club and high school level. Ross is responsible for the Boys Youth Division of the club. He is the HYSA and the ODP liaison for Hawaii Rush.
ROBIN NAKAGAWA
DIRECTOR OF COACHING YOUTH GIRLS
USSF "D" LICENSE, NSCAA DIPLOMA
Robin is one of the most experienced local coaches. He has been coaching competitive youth soccer for more then 15 years and has great succes throughout his coaching experience. He is responsible for the Girls Youth Division and the "Joggling Program".
AARON LIBED
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAM
NSCAA NATIONAL DIPLOMA
He played as a professional for the Hawaii "Tsunami". Aaron has close to 20 years of experience in youth coaching as an assistant, head coach and age group coordinator. He supervises a number of developmental programs such as Future Stars, Soccer School, etc.
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Played for and coached college soccer at Notre Dame de Namur.
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Played for and coached at Evergreen Valley College.
- Played and coached for the youth system of Real San Jose and Sporting Santa Clara.
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Coached youth soccer programs for Central Valley in Northern California.
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Assistant coach for Real San Jose in the NPSL league.
About Our Coaching Staff
The Rush takes great pride in the coaches that work for us, both part time and full time. In fact they are the cornerstone, the backbone of who and what we are.
Developing soccer players is the primary objective for our coaches, but what cannot be underestimated is the importance of coaches shaping lives. Gone are the days when coaching responsibilities consist of working with X's and O's. Today, coaches must be technically proficient and tactically sound of course. But coaches must also have an understanding of how to teach players to take care of their bodies. Running sprints is no longer the only method of maintaining fitness. Today's athlete must understand the importance of endurance for sure, but strength, coordination and nutrition are all facets of physical conditioning. Understanding the psyche of youth players and managing those players is also a key component in coaching. Today's coaches must be able to motivate and build self-esteem in their players. All this simply means we need quality, well-rounded men and women to lead our youth to success both on and off the field. Coaches are now teachers, motivators, psychologist, mentors and more.
Our coaches continually strive to develop players on and off the pitch. It is a great privilege to coach in the Rush, the best soccer organization in America. And with great privilege comes great responsibility. We are proud to boast of the great many hard working coaches we have who embrace this privilege and thrive with this responsibility.
Hawaii Rush Soccer Club
98-1264 Kaahumanu St. Ste. 202-B, Pearl City, HI 96782
Tel: (808) 834-RUSH (7874) | Fax: (808) 486-4772
