Les Hamaguchi
PROFILE
Les shared his passion for the game of basketball with many young athletes. He felt basketball was an excellent vehicle to teach life lessons, and saw how sports can help shape a young person’s core values, commitment to task and work ethic. Les has been a long-time organizer of the Bob Carkner Memorial Basketball Classic Tournament.
Richmond Roots Les grew up in Richmond and attended Gilmore Elementary, Hugh Boyd and Steveston Secondary. For as long as he can remember, Les has had a passion for basketball. He played at both Hugh Boyd and Steveston and started coaching basketball in 1975, a year after graduating.
Did You Know Les also had a passion for hockey, which he gave up at 18 to pursue a basketball coaching career.
Barriers Overcome Unlike most school coaches, Les was not a teacher and often sacrificed his work and personal life to coaching and supporting his many teams and the game of high school basketball.
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS
Recognition In 1999, the Richmond School District awarded the inaugural Citation of Merit Coaching Award for non-teacher coaches, in 2008 won the Sport BC President’s Award, in 2010 became Honorary Lifetime Member for the BC Senior Secondary Girls Basketball Association and was awarded the Special Merit Award from Basketball BC in 2012.
All Awards
| Year | Award | Detals |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Citation of Merit Award – Richmond Secondary Schools Athletic Association | Inaugural award to recognized non-teacher coaches in the Richmond school system |
| 2008 | President’s Award – B.C. School Sports | While the president of the British Columbia Senior Secondary Girls Basketball Association |
| 2009 | Lifetime Achievement Award – HSBC Tournament Classic | Recognition for outstanding contributions of excellence by the HSBC Board of Directors |
| 2010 | Career Coaching Award – British Columbia Senior Secondary Girls Basketball Association | Recognition of coaching service to the association |
| 2012 | Honorary Lifetime Member Award – British Columbia Senior Secondary Girls Basketball Association | The B.C.S.S.G.B.A. version of their Hall of Fame |
| 2012 | Special Merit Award to B.C. Provincial Girl’s AAA Basketball Championship Committee – Basketball B.C. | Recognition of 15 years of hosting the B.C. Provincial Girl’s AAA Basketball Championship |
Championship Les coached the 1984 Palmer junior girls and the 1991 Richmond senior girls to provincial championships. He coached numerous Richmond and Vancouver district championships with boys and girls teams.
Championships
| Year | Achievement | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | B.C. High School Provincial Basketball Championship – Junior Girls | Co-coached R.C. Palmer Junior Girls |
| 1991 | B.C. High School Provincial Basketball Championship – Senior Girls | Coached Richmond Senior High School Girls |
SPORTING HISTORY
Career Stats
| Year | Team / Organization | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| 1975-1977 | Head Coach, Grade 8-9 Boys Basketball, Hugh Boyd Junior High School | |
| 1977-1978 | Assistant Coach, Senior Boys Basketball, Richmond High Secondary | |
| 1978-1981 | Head Coach, Boys Basketball, Burnett Junior Secondary | |
| 1981-1989 | Head Coach, Junior Boys and Girls Basketball, Palmer Junior Secondary | 1987 Junior Girls Provincial Runner-up |
| 1989-1997 | Head Coach, Senior Girls Basketball, Richmond High Secondary | 1994 Senior Girls Provincial Runner-up |
| 1997-2007 | Head Coach, Junior and Senior Girls Basketball , Steveston Secondary School | |
| 2007-2014 | Head Coach, Senior Girls Basketball, Steveston-London Senior Girls |
Contribution to Richmond Sport Les served as the President of BC High School Girls Basketball for 21 years, Lower Mainland Zone Seniors Girls Rep for 25 years and the Tournament Director for the AAA Girls Basketball Provincial Basketball Championship for 15 years.