Successful Mililani girls coach resigns

By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer

James Uson, who coached Mililani High School's girls into the last three state soccer championship games and won the title in 2002, has resigned.

His replacement will inherit a record of 51 consecutive O'ahu Interscholastic Association Western Division games without a defeat, dating to 1998.

Uson, 46, said that he wanted to have more time for his two daughters. Kendra will enter high school at Kamehameha in the fall and Meaghan is going into the first grade.

"I'm not going to close the door" on coaching, Uson said. "I want to coach Meaghan in AYSO. I signed her up for next fall." Kendra is a junior varsity cheerleader at Kamehameha.

Uson was Mililani's head coach for seven years and coached the Trojans to the last five Western Division championships and the last two OIA titles.

He replaced Charles Esperas, who won state titles in 1988 and '94 and won six OIA championships. Uson assisted Esperas from 1992-96.

Uson's overall record, not counting preseason, was 89-13-6. In the OIA Western Division, Mililani has gone 60-3-5.

Uson was chosen state Coach of the Year in 2002 and co-Coach of the Year in 2001.

His 2003 team was unbeaten until losing to Punahou, 1-0, in the state championship game.

In 2000, Uson underwent emergency surgery to remove a benign tumor from the top of his brain two nights before the state tournament began. His brother, John, who was one of his assistants, coached the team to fifth place.

Mililani athletic director Glenn Nitta said he would call for applications to replace Uson soon. "There are a lot of good people in Mililani," Uson said.

He said he expected junior varsity coach Ray Akiona to apply. Akiona's teams have not lost a game in the three years the OIA has had JVs.