IOLANI PREP CLASSIC
Ex-Iolani star on opposing bench

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

WAHIAWA — Major league baseball pitcher and 'Ewa Beach product Mike Fetters will make his annual visit to his alma mater, Iolani School, tonight. But this time it's for business, and he won't be cheering for the Raiders.

Fetters, a 15-year big league veteran, is an assistant basketball coach for the Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) Huskies, who play two-time defending state champion Iolani at 6:30 p.m. in the first round of the Iolani Prep Classic.

Fetters spends seven months a year trying to stop sluggers like Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi and Nomar Garciaparra in setup relief. Tonight he has another offensive juggernaut to worry about.

"We better find somebody who can match up with (Raiders guard) Derrick Low, otherwise it'll be a long night," said Fetters, the 1983 Advertiser State Player of the Year in basketball. "But the great thing about Derrick Low is he doesn't have to score to be a threat. He does all the other little things that helps his team win."

Fetters knows something about winning basketball games, having led Iolani to its first state championship in 1983. He said basketball always has been his favorite sport, and he hinted to the Huskies' athletic director in 2002 that he might be interested in helping Hamilton, where his son Bryant is a sophomore.

"I had heard that Mike had aspirations of coaching basketball, so I asked him if he'd be interested in coming out and helping," Huskies head coach Kevin Hartwig said. "He has a great understanding of the game, and in addition to being great with x's and o's, he's good at relating to the kids and dealing with their problems. And being a professional athlete, they listen to him when he tells them if they want to accomplish anything, they have to work hard. It's been a wonderful benefit having him."

Senior Brian Schaeffer said he knew nothing of Fetters' baseball or basketball background when Fetters came aboard last year, but he noticed right away the 6-foot-4 Fetters means business.

"He's an intense coach," Schaeffer said after last night's practice at Leilehua gym. "But that's what he brings to us — to see where he is, playing at that highest level, that's where all of us want to be. He's a good example to have."

Another benefit was Fetters' Iolani connection, which helped Hamilton receive an invitation to the Classic, regarded as one of the nation's premier tournaments.

"This tournament is a great thing, and I wanted these kids to experience it," Fetters said. "The competition in Arizona isn't any higher than it is in Hawai'i, so it'll be good for them to see these other great teams."

Fetters also said it might help the Huskies' chances of winning a state title.

"My goal is to help these kids experience that," he said. "Being on that 1983 team was one of the most special times of my life, and winning that title still is one of my biggest accomplishments in sports — and I've done almost everything. It's very, very special to me."

TIP-IN: Fetters, who turns 39 on Friday, underwent "Tommy John" surgery on his right (pitching) arm on Aug. 18 and is a free agent. He said he expects to be ready to pitch in April and is looking to be picked up by a major league team.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.

• • •