The Ka’u community and sports enthusiasts mourned the recent passing of Robert Barba, a seasoned coach who passed away at 82 in late April.
Upon his return to Pahala after his service in the Army, Coach Barba couldn’t bear to watch a Ka’u High football game; the desire to suit up and return to the field consumed him. By the early 1970s, Coach Barba reignited his passion, first as a Pop Warner and flag football coach and eventually as a coach for Ka‘u High School by the late 70’s.
And what an exceptional coach he became. He instilled in his young Trojans the skill of grinding out yardage with swift running plays and precise short passes.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, retired Hilo High Coach Leroy Simms expressed his admiration for Coach Barba’s unique football wishbone offense and stout defense, eagerly seeking to learn from him. Despite Coach Simms’ persistent efforts, Coach Barba kept his offensive strategies closely guarded, adding an air of mystery to his coaching style that continues to captivate and inspire.
Playfully teasing Coach Simms, Coach Barba declared, “It remains a secret.”
One person Coach Barba shared his wishbone offense with while playing on Coach Barba’s 1976-77 football team was Ka’u Quarterback Catalino Alcordo, his first cousin.
“Coach Bobby had an advanced mind for his time; he came up with the best plays and knew how to dismantle other teams’ offense; if there’s one thing I can take away from his mentorship, it is that he told me if you wanted to be great you have to go above and beyond your peers,” Alcordo said as he reminisced about his years under his wing from his early years playing Pop Warner football and boxing from age 9 for Coach Barba.
In 1979, Coach Barba revitalized the Ka‘u High football program by temporarily suspending the varsity team and leading the junior varsity squad to the BIIF championship.
Coach Barba dedicated 34 years as a loading machine operator and welder for the former Ka‘u Sugar Company while mentoring countless youths in the community.
Recognizing his extensive coaching career spanning multiple sports, Coach Barba was inducted into The Big Island Sports Hall of Fame as its 90th member a few years ago, a testament to his unwavering dedication and profound impact on those he coached and mentored. His teachings extended beyond the sports arena, instilling essential physical and mental conditioning lessons that prepared his students for both sports and life’s challenges.
Coach Barba’s legacy lives on through the legion of grateful Ka‘u High School Trojans, each a testament to his enduring influence as a coach and mentor. His impact on the Ka’u community was profound, and his memory will forever be cherished. A memorial to honor Coach Barba’s life will be scheduled for a future date.