The Long Game with Mark Carpenter

Chris Brown serves as the Rainbow Warriors’ associate head coach and linebackers coach.
The Kahaluʻu native and proud Damien alum is remembered as one of the most intimidating and physical defensive standouts in UH history—a reputation he now brings to the players he coaches. Before returning to Mānoa, Brown spent years coaching at national prep powerhouse Bishop Gorman, where he helped establish a recruiting pipeline from Nevada to Hawaiʻi.
In this episode, Brown reflects on his playing days at UH, breaks down his strength and conditioning philosophy, and explains what he looks for in the ideal Rainbow Warrior recruit.

Kanoa Leahey is the definitive voice of University of Hawaiʻi athletics, carrying on a family broadcasting legacy established by his grandfather, Chuck, and father, Jim, who each spent decades telling the stories of Hawaiʻi sports. A versatile professional, Leahey has built a reputation for his ability to call nearly any sport, connect effortlessly with his broadcast partners, and let the biggest moments speak for themselves. In this episode, he talks about growing up in the business, the years-long process of finding his own voice, and the pride and responsibility that come with broadcasting UH sports.

David Stant is entering his first full season as head football coach of the Kahuku Red Raiders. A North Shore native and former Red Raiders standout, Stant earned his way onto the University of Hawaiʻi football team as a walk-on before launching a coaching career that has spanned decades in Hawaiʻi and overseas. In this episode, Stant reflects on his journey, shares what it takes to build a championship program, and opens up about the immense pressure that comes with leading one of Hawaii's most storied programs.

Isaac Sopoaga has one of the most storybook career arcs in professional sports. The American Samoa native spent his childhood playing rugby against grown men and wasn't introduced to American football until his junior year in high school.

The bruising defensive lineman joined the Rainbow Warriors after two seasons in junior college where he became one of the country's top recruits, fielding offers from powerhouse programs like Nebraska, Miami, and USC. He played 11 NFL seasons, mostly with the San Francisco 49ers, and earned a reputation as one of the strongest players in the sport. In this episode, he talks about falling in love with Hawaii, playing in a Super Bowl, and a record-setting showing at the NFL Combine.

Kolten Wong is one of Hawaiʻi's most accomplished Major League Baseball players. The Hilo native and Kamehameha Hawaiʻi alumnus recently announced his retirement after an 11-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, and Los Angeles Dodgers. A former All-American at the University of Hawaiʻi, Wong became the first position player in program history selected in the first round of the MLB Draft. He went on to establish himself as one of baseball's premier defensive infielders, earning two Gold Glove Awards while competing on the game's biggest stages.

In this episode, Wong reflects on retirement, his journey from Hilo to the major leagues, and the lessons he learned over more than a decade in professional baseball.

Rich Miano has been a fixture in Hawaii sports for decades. After moving to Hawaii as a teenager in the late 1970s, he became a standout athlete at Kaiser High School before walking on at the University of Hawaii.

Following an impressive career in Manoa, Miano was selected by the New York Jets in the 1985 NFL Draft and enjoyed an 11-year pro career. After his playing days, he returned to UH as an assistant coach under June Jones and helped guide the program to some of its most successful seasons. Today, he remains deeply committed to developing Hawaii's next generation of athletes through his speed and quickness camps and his work with the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.

In this episode, Miano reflects on his difficult transition to life in Hawaii, his journey from walk-on to NFL veteran, and the lessons that continue to shape his approach to coaching, mentorship, and leadership.

Hawaii News Now is now the home of University of Hawaii athletics and to celebrate this agreement, we sat down with UH athletics director Matt Elliott.

Just one year into his tenure, he's already made a tremendous impact on the department-- boosting fundraising, strengthening the university's relationship with the community, and laying a foundation for long-term success.

Elliott joined UH after extensive experience with the Hawaii Community Foundation and 13 years with UCLA Athletics.

In this episode, we talk about his career journey, the changing landscape of collegiate sports, and what makes UH fans unlike any other.

'You're not just a St. Louis head coach'

Tupu Alualu is a state championship winning head coach and entering his third season leading the St. Louis Crusaders. It's a program he's been around for most of his life and one that he is beyond proud to represent as a former star player, longtime assistant, and now the man in charge of one of Hawaii's most storied teams. His journey to Kalaepohaku is fascinating and in this episode, he shares his emotional story of moving to Hawaii from Samoa as a young boy and how football changed his life.  

Chad Owens is among the most electrifying players in University of Hawaii football history. His journey to success serves as an inspiration. The Roosevelt alum joined the Rainbow Warriors as a walk-on and went on to enjoy a record-setting All-American collegiate career. The playmaking receiver and returner was recently inducted into the UH Circle of Honor and is a member of the Canadian Football League Hall of Hame, Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame, and Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.

'Winners make it happen. Losers let it happen.'

Ron Nomura has dedicated his career to guiding Hawaii's next generation of baseball stars. After graduating from McKinley High in the 1970s, he went on to enjoy a standout career at the University of Hawaii before spending 15 seasons working alongside the legendary Les Murakami. Together with his sons, he established the Nomura Academy, an organization built to develop the state's prep baseball talent and help provide pathways to collegiate and pro opportunities.

Chris Blake is one of the most successful head coaches in Hawaii high school volleyball history. Through a decades-long career, he's led Kamehameha Kapalama to 13 state championship victories and helped guide countless student-athletes to NCAA Division 1 programs. He currently serves as the Director of Pacific Innovations at KS and is an apprentice navigator with the Polynesian Voyaging Society. In this episode, he talks about his coaching journey, his passion for teaching, and the lessons from sailing around the world with Hokulea.

Laura Beeman spent 14 seasons as the Rainbow Wahine head basketball coach. The four-time Big West Coach of the Year is one of the longest-tenured and most successful coaches in program history, leading the team to three NCAA tournament appearances. In this episode, she talks about her decorated coaching career, the work it takes to build a program, and her love for the state of Hawaii. This episode was recorded before she announced her retirement on March 30th.

Darren Johnson is the head football coach of the Campbell Sabers and recently led the team to its first ever Division One Open State Championship.  As a native of O’ahu’s North Shore, he’s dedicated years to the sport and has a passion for inspiring young student-athletes.

In this episode, he discusses Campbell’s championship run, the evolving high school football transfer portal, and how coaching has impacted his personal health

Kristi Yamaguchi is an Olympic gold medalist and world champion figure skater. The hall of famer made history in 1992 by becoming the first Asian-American woman to win gold in any Winter Olympic sport. As a former part-time Hawaii resident, Yamaguchi maintains strong ties to the islands through Always Dream, an organization dedicated to early childhood literacy. This year, Always Dream is celebrating its 30th anniversary and works closely with elementary schools across the state. In this episode, Yamaguchi discusses her extensive Olympic career, the decision to compete professionally, and the success of Always Dream.

Anthony "A.C." Carter ranks among the greatest players in University of Hawaii men's basketball history. The electrifying point guard led the 'Bows during some of the program's most memorable seasons before going on to experience a 13-year NBA career. He recently became only the second player in UH history to have his number retired. In this episode, he reflects back on his tough journey to Manoa, leading upsets over nationally-ranked opponents, and lessons learned from the NBA.

Part 2 of our conversation with Jarinn Akana dives in to his career as an NBA assistant coach and professional sports agent.

Following his playing days at the University of Hawaii, Akana maintained close contacts within the basketball community and eventually landed a coaching position with the Dallas Mavericks.

He went on to work with several other franchises before moving into the agency world, where he represented some of the league's top players and brokered millions of dollars worth of contracts.

Considered among the most successful sports executives to come out of Hawaii, Jarinn Akana carved a unique path to success.

Akana grew up a basketball star on Molokai before becoming a standout point guard with Riley Wallace's Rainbow Warriors in the mid 1990s. Akana later went on to join several NBA franchises as an assistant coach and eventually entered the world of sports management.

Over the course of 16-plus years as a professional sports agent, Akana represented some of the NBA's biggest stars and brokered hundreds of millions of dollars worth of contracts.  In part 1 of this 2-part episode, Akana reflects on growing up in Hawaii and his time at UH.

Kurt Zwald is the senior director of business strategy and analytics for the Seattle Mariners.

The East Honolulu native and Punahou alum recently joined the Mariners after nearly 15 years in a similar role with the Boston Red Sox.

Before becoming a seasoned MLB front office executive, he got his start with Hawaii Winter Baseball in the mid-2000s.

In this episode, he discusses the business of pro sports, the experience of working for a championship-winning franchise, and the life lessons learned throughout his career.

Kyle Quilausing's story is one-of-a-kind. The Hilo native burst onto the scene of Hawaii's junior golf circuit before life took an unexpected turn as he fell into a downward spiral of addiction, crime, and incarceration. After spending 10 years behind bars, Quilausing has since dedicated his life to faith, family, and sobriety. He's now an influential motivational speaker, sharing his journey with youth across the nation.

Selected in the first round of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft, Caleb Lomavita is a catcher with the Washington Nationals organization. The Ewa native and St. Louis alum is entering his second full professional season and is one of the league's rising stars.

In this episode, he talks about growing up in Hawaii's youth baseball circuit, his all-american collegiate career at Cal, and life in the pros.

As the founder of Brain Health Hawaii, Dr. Jason Keifer has spent years helping the state’s top athletes fine-tune and sharpen their mental performance. 

His clinic specializes in a non-invasive magnetic neurostimulation treatment that has yielded positive results to overcome a number of conditions, including anxiety, depression, concussions, and PTSD. 

In this episode, he discusses advancements in brain research, the importance of sleep, and the science behind “coming up clutch” and “the yips.”

Derrick Low is widely considered to be among the greatest local prospects in Hawaii prep basketball history.

The Iolani alum is a three-time Hawaii player of the year and led the Raiders to three consecutive state championships. 

He went on to star collegiately at Washington State before playing professionally overseas. 

In this episode, Low talks about growing up in the Kalakaua basketball clinic, life as a pro, and the lessons learned from childhood with a single father.

As the owner of Tactical Strength & Conditioning, Darin Yap has built a reputation over the years as one of the country's premier trainers.

He works closely with Hawaii's top professional athletes, including Max Holloway, Ezekiel Lau, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Joey Cantillo, and Kolten Wong. 

The Aiea native is known for crafting personalized training regimens designed to help elite athletes hone their skills or assist everyday clients in reaching their fitness goals. 

In this episode, he talks about working alongside pro athletes, the evolution of fitness over the years, and common training misconceptions.

Joey Cantillo is a pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians. The Kailua alum was drafted out of high school in 2017 and immediately pursued a pro career.

He spent years working his way through the minor league system before making his Major League debut in the summer of 2024.

In this episode, he discusses his time with the Surfriders, the decision to go pro, and his MLB experience thus far.

The Rainbow Warriors’ offense is clicking this season, and quarterbacks coach Chad Kapanui is a huge reason why.

The Roosevelt alum and former UH standout is back home after spending nearly two decades in Nevada, coaching national powerhouses Liberty and Bishop Gorman.

In this episode, he talks about growing up as a three-sport athlete in Pauoa, his time in Las Vegas, and the talents of Micah Alejado.