KEALAKEHE — For newly-hired Kealakehe football coach Brian Hill, it’s never too early to get started.
While other Big Island youth athletes have been fully invested in track, golf, volleyball, baseball, softball and other spring sports for the past several weeks, Hill and a handful of his new players have been going full throttle in offseason workouts since Feb. 24 — even with football season being six months away.
This past week, which Hill calls ‘Camp Paradise,’ the Waveriders have been focusing primarily on padless field drills such as tire flips and drags, route running and endurance building. Prior to this week, Kealakehe did classroom work called ‘Championship Training School,’ along with weight room orientation. Hill told West Hawaii Today at Thursday’s workouts that the team plans to get back in the weight room for more offseason work.
Hill sees the spring activities as an opportunity to get to know some of his players and stay ahead in the process of improving each week. Although the full team cannot make every workout due to spring sports commitments, as much as 27 ‘Rider football players have shown up at a time.
“Last year, this group didn’t get the opportunity to have the offseason that they probably needed,” Hill said. “So what we’re trying to do is put a process in place, drive process over outcome and see if we can build a program.
“The number (of players working out) is smaller now, but we’re still gonna work. We have a great staff that has dedicated their time in helping these boys get better.”
Hill arrives in Kailua-Kona hoping to revamp a Kealakehe program that has struggled in recent years. Since 2021, the ‘Riders have had zero seasons above .500. Last year, the team went 0-8. But since being named the new head coach in January, Hill is impressed with the group’s potential and collective positive mindset in righting the ship — explaining that the early part of the offseason process will be more focused on the fundamentals and staying consistent, rather than worrying about winning or losing.
He also wants his players to dream big, emphasizing that no objective is too large to conquer.
“We want to impress the importance of setting goals for themselves — getting comfortable with setting goals and working every day to meet them,” Hill explained. “From a football standpoint, we are not worried about Ws or Ls right now. Instead, we are emphasizing attendance and commitment, which are things that shape the change that everybody here recognizes needs to happen.
“We’ve talked about trying to plant the seed of asking ourselves what we haven’t done before. Talking about the nevers help shape our goals. So we are trying to influence them to think that way, so they can think big and then put the pieces in place to make that kind of thing happen. If we can get used to believing in each other while hustling and committing, then we are going to be just fine.”
Hill also talked about the importance of succeeding in areas outside of football, explaining that fully applying one’s self in other areas can translate to success on the field.
“We’ve really tried to teach them the importance of rest, nutrition, recovery, performance in school, performance on social media and performance at home — and if they’re doing right in all those things, chances are they are going to do it here,” he said. “So we’re trying to encourage them to be mindful of how they prepare themselves, their bodies, their minds and their spirits to be the best versions of themselves out here at all times.”
In addition to preaching to his boys on staying consistent in all areas, Hill is encouraging more students to try out, as Kealakehe did not field a junior varsity team in 2024. He also wants his squad to be in the best athletic shape they can be in to avoid injury during the season.
“In terms of other performance metrics, we hope our offseason program will protect them for injury when the games start. And if we are able to keep the numbers in the program and keep them engaged, we’re going to see the results that the whole community wants to see.”
Arriving at the program ready to work, Hill has a decorated history of leadership. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Hill spent a chunk of his youth around the Ohio State University Buckeyes Football program, as his late father — Billy Hill — was the head athletic trainer of the team from the early 1970s to mid 1990s. Brian Hill had the opportunity to meet and befriend several iconic OSU football coaches, including Woody Hayes, Earle Bruce and John Cooper.
Hill became a football star himself, soon enrolling in the United States Air Force Academy as a linebacker. He was a central contributor in his team’s 1990 Liberty Bowl win, tying the second-most tackles in a game in the bowl’s history with 11 — ironically against his father’s Buckeyes. Hill was additionally named to the Liberty Bowl 1990s All-Decade Team.
Hill started his coaching journey as a graduate assistant at the Air Force Academy, and then soon followed his father’s footsteps by serving in the air force for over three decades. Living all over the world, Hill got the opportunity to coach in several environments, including Alaska, North Carolina and Germany. Eventually making his way to Hawai‘i, Hill and his family fell in love with the Aloha culture, and ultimately decided to make it their permenant home.
He then served on Punahou football’s coaching staff from 2006-2011 and Moanalua’s staff from 2022-2023. Moving to the Big Island in late 2023, Hill took a year off of coaching before deciding to make a return in 2025. He views his newest opportunity as a privilege and responsibility in revamping the program, hoping to teach the boys lessons they will carry for life.
“I couldn’t be more excited, but it’s more than excitement,” Hill said. “It’s really an appreciation for the responsibility of leading a group of young men who are in the perfect stage of growth and development. Being part of that is an honor.
“It’s a great opportunity (these boys) give you to open a door into their lives and the trust they put into you. Coaching always meant something significant in my life growing up, and I think it does for these young men, too. The commitment to the development is just priceless.”
The Waverider players themselves seem to be fully bought into Hill’s philosophy, too. Current juniors Logan Garber and Cash Velazquez admitted that the new offseason workouts have been difficult, but also fulfilling. The pair looks forward to continuing to be challenged by their new coach.
“It’s been challenging but fun — we are always looking to get better,” Garber, who plays linebacker, said. “We’re all super excited, and hopefully, we can turn this program around and get stuff done.
“We’re looking forward to building relationships, hopefully winning games and just having fun.”
“It’s been tiring, but pretty good so far,” Velazquez, who plays cornerback, added.
A handful of Kealakehe players will also be suiting up for the first time, including current freshman Niko Tuia — who did not play football this past fall. Joining Hill and his staff, Tuia could not be more excited to start his Waveriders’ journey.
“It’s been good so far,” he said. “We’re very excited to see how (Hill) coaches us. Hopefully, we can win some games. So far, we have good teamwork and we talk to each other quite a lot.”
Needless to say, the future of Waverider football looks bright, and Kealakehe fans will have a changed program to look forward to watching this fall.
“We’re trying to build a team that the community can be proud of, because they deserve it,” Hill said.
