University of Hawai'i senior running back/special teams member Inoke Funaki is one of 30 student-athletes selected to attend the NCAA Football Coaches Academy. The Academy will take place January 10-12, 2010 in conjunction with the American Football Coaches Association Convention in Orlando, Florida.

 

“I was extremely happy when I was notified that I was selected to this camp,” Funaki said. “It's quite an honor to be among the 30 student-athletes who were selected. Coaching is one of my career ambitions and I'm excited to be able to learn from the best in the collegiate coaching profession.”

 

“This is a great honor for Inoke,” UH head coach Greg McMackin said. “He has been a leader and excellent player for us and more importantly he's excelled in academics for our program and this university. This is a well-deserved award to such a class person.”

 

According to the NCAA, the NCAA Future Football Coaches Academy (Academy) will assist individuals who have recently completed their collegiate eligibility and have a desire to enter the college football coaching profession. The Academy is sponsored and administered by the NCAA. In order to enhance the excellence of the Academy's programs, the Academy will also receive support from the AFCA. The AFCA is the largest and primary professional association for football coaches at all levels of competition, and works closely with several athletics associations, including the NCAA. In addition, the Academy will receive support from the Black Coaches' Administrators (BCA) and the National Football League (NFL).

 

The mission of the NCAA Football Coaches Academy is to assist ethnic minority football coaches with career advancement through skills enhancement, networking and exposure opportunities while raising awareness regarding the substantial pool of talented ethnic minority coaches.

 

The objectives of the program are to: increase the understanding and application of skills necessary to secure head coaching positions, increase the understanding and awareness of competencies necessary for success in head coaching at the intercollegiate level, motivate assistant coaches and coordinators to pursue careers as head coaches at the Football Bowl Subdivision level, introduce ethnic minority coaches to senior-level coaches and administrators, raise public awareness of the existing talent pool of ethnic minority coaches and promote the coaching profession to student-athletes, graduate assistants and others.

 

Recognized football coaches and leaders in athletics and higher education will serve as faculty for the workshops. A unique aspect of this program will be the mentoring opportunities that the faculty will provide participants. During the academy, college football coaches will be assigned to spend time with the participants in an attempt to address issues on a more personal basis as well as introduce them to fellow coaches and the various aspects of the AFCA Convention.

 

Funaki has already earned his bachelors degree in psychology in the Fall of 2008. He is a four-year letterman for the Warriors, who switched to running back this season after three years at quarterback. As a junior in 2008, Funaki started six games under center.