KAPAA — Kapaa High School varsity defensive and special teams coordinator Mike Tresler right now is focused on getting his boys prepared for Friday’s big game. Kapaa will take on Radford of the Oahu Interscholastic Federation at Aloha Stadium for
KAPAA — Kapaa High School varsity defensive and special teams coordinator Mike Tresler right now is focused on getting his boys prepared for Friday’s big game.
Kapaa will take on Radford of the Oahu Interscholastic Federation at Aloha Stadium for the Division II state championship.
“Everything is a blur. I got a championship game going on. That is my focus,” Tresler said during Wednesday’s practice at Kapaa High School.
But come January, Tresler will take his coaching expertise to the national level. He was chosen to be the defensive backs coach for the USA 19-and-under national team for an upcoming international game.
The 19U national team will play Canada in the International Bowl on Jan. 31. The game will take place at AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, and will be televised by ESPN. Tresler made the final decision to join the staff Monday.
“It kind of caught me off guard. I said, ‘Coach, you have all these people that you know and coached with. All these people across the country. Why me?’” Tresler said. “He said that I got the passion for the game. He’s excited to give me that opportunity.
“I’m not going to question any more than that,” he added as he laughed jovially. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Tresler and the U.S. head coach, Shaun Aguano, have a long history together. Aguano is a Kapaa High alumnus and Tresler said they’ve known each other since “Pop Warner days.”
Aguano is also the head coach of Chandler High School’s football team in Arizona.
“Coach Shaun has been helping us. I’ve been interacting with him. Learning from him and his coaching staff. He’s a great resource,” Tresler said about Aguano. “They won state last year in Arizona, and they’re on their way to repeat again.”
“There’s a lot of respect for his football knowledge, coaching abilities and as a person,” Tresler added. “He got named head coach (of the national team), and I guess he thought about me and looking out for, you know, local people and not forgeting his roots.”
Tresler and the other coaches will arrive to Texas on Jan. 25 and the players will arrive the following day.
“It’s a short week of practice. It’s just a few days,” he said. “I’m not afraid to compete with anybody and coach at any level. I’m willing to learn and work as hard as anybody.”
In addition, Tresler is a Dallas fan and looks forward stepping foot on the Cowboys’ home field.
“I’m excited. And it will be on ESPN3. It’s a big deal. And just being around great coaches, it’s a great opportunity,” he said.
In addition to coaching high school football, Tresler is also a former player for the University of Hawaii.
“I have confidence in my coaching abilities, as far as my knowledge in all the years I’ve been coaching high school football, my experience in college and being under great coaches in college,” he said. “We’ll see how it is, how I match up and how well I can do. I’ve been coordinating a long time in Hawaii high school football. I guess I can only say that I can do my best.”
“I have a good track record of winning and coaching up good defense and special teams, and being a good role model for these kids,” Tresler added. “I think that’s a big thing. I think Shaun knows I have a big passion for the game. He’s seen me coach with him.”
Tresler hopes by the end, he’ll be a better, more experienced coach.
“Definitely gain more knowledge, meet more people, make contacts and learn. That’s how you learn, meeting new people,” he said. “Everybody has a different perspective on the game. Different techniques and different views. That’s what I’m looking to. And also meeting these athletes and beating Canada.”
