If coaching success truly is measured not in wins and losses but in the number of lives positively influenced, then Dennis Agena probably has everyone else in Hawai'i basketball history beat.

Riley Wallace? Red Rocha? Vince Goo? Tony Sellitto? Merv Lopes? Pete Smith? Walter Wong? Jimmy Alegre? Mark Mugiishi?

As far as wins and losses, that distinguished group certainly has the numbers to top Agena, whose record as a head coach in high school and college is 0-0.

But as far as lives touched, well, consider that Agena's current crop of active students numbers 900. And he has been doing this for 39 years.

Sometimes, in a championship-level high school game, it is easier to pick out the players who haven't attended Agena's Kalakaua clinic at one time or another.

"Practically our whole team has gone to his clinic," said Punahou girls coach Mike Taylor, whose Buffanblu have won two of the past three Division I state titles. "The kids who come to us from there just have a lot of confidence in their ball-handling, shooting and passing. As coaches, we all like to stress fundamentals, but we're blessed because the clinic takes care of a lot of it for us. Our program definitely is reaping the benefits."

If there is one aspect of the game that Agena stresses, it is fundamentals. Through a countless variety of drills, players learn to dribble the ball deftly with both hands — between their legs, behind their back, crossing over, using hesitation moves, weaving through an obstacle course of small orange cones.

The skills are developed only after hundreds of repetitions. Virtually all of the 75- to 90-minute sessions are devoted to drills, with Agena barking out to those who don't do it exactly right.

"It's a good workout — he'll tell you straight what you are doing wrong," said Rachel Kane, The Advertiser's 2003 State Player of the Year from Punahou who now plays at Gonzaga. "In college, everyone's good as far as talent, so a lot of times it comes down to who is fundamentally sound. The Mainland players are quicker and a lot taller, but the kids here can dribble better, by far. Even the little kids can dribble better."

In addition to the dribbling, players practice moves to the basket, passing the ball in transition and shooting.

While paying close attention to detail, Agena constantly implores the players to "Go hard!"

"The No. 1 thing he asks of his players is to do their best," Taylor said. "If a kid is willing to give 100 percent effort, he'll do anything he can to help them."

The demand for complete effort and attention comes almost out of necessity, considering the amount of students in each session and the limited amount of time he has with each of them.

The clinics are held in 14 once-a-week sessions in the summer, winter and spring. The ages and level of ability range from 7 years old/beginner to college age/NCAA Division I. There are four separate sessions each on Saturdays and Sundays, with a total of 900 kids participating and a waiting list of about 300.

Perhaps the most amazing aspect is the cost: For the summer session, it's free. And for the winter and spring sessions, a one-time $100 fee covers all 14 weeks.

By comparison, college camps often charge $150 for three days, and former NBA star John Stockton's three-day camp here earlier this month cost $325 per player.

Even the $100 fee charged in the winter and spring does not go directly into Agena's pocket. Much of it is used for equipment and to finance summer trips for his select teams, one of which participated in the prestigious End of Oregon Trail tournament earlier this month.

Agena also has used money collected from the fees to purchase gym scoreboards and a baseball/softball pitching machine for Kalani High School, which allows him free use of the gym for the clinic every Sunday.

"We didn't charge anything for the longest time," said Myles Akamine, who has assisted Agena for over 30 years. "And there's never been any advertising — it's been just word of mouth."

Agena, who played point guard for Farrington, began coaching in youth leagues almost immediately after his high school graduation in 1966. In 1969, he started the free Sunday morning clinic at Kalakaua Gym mainly for Kalihi kids who could not afford camps that charged fees.

Among that first group of kids were Blane Gaison, who went on to play five seasons in the NFL as a defensive back for the Atlanta Falcons; Cliff Laboy, who went on to star for the University of Hawai'i football team and has operated a successful Christmas tree business; and Ia Saipa'ia, whose state tournament title game record of 38 points in 1975 still stands.

Through the years, word of the clinic spread throughout the island, drawing players from Windward and Central O'ahu, Hawai'i Kai, even Wai'anae. And the accomplishments of his players — on and off the court — continued to grow as well, even beyond our shores (see chart).

But Agena maintains the sole purpose of his clinic is not to produce all-stars. He knows almost all 900 kids by name, and he encourages them to become good people, not just good players.

"Only a certain amount can make their high school team," Agena said. "My motivation is in teaching. If I can help somebody improve and help with their growth — that's the challenge."

Taylor said Agena's lessons go well beyond basketball.

"He always reminds his players to give their all in everything," Taylor said. "He gives them tools to be better in all walks of life."