Dane Fujinaka joins the show to discuss his baseball journey and the process of rebuilding Hawai‘i Pacific University into one of the rising programs in the PacWest.

Now entering his fifth season as the Sharks’ head coach, Fujinaka has established a program centered on player development, character, athleticism, and sustainable growth. He reflects on HPU’s historic 2025 season, which included 32 victories, an appearance in the PacWest Championship game, multiple program records, and the development of several nationally recognized players.

Fujinaka also takes us through his path from growing up and playing baseball in Hawai‘i to becoming a standout catcher at Sacramento State and beginning his coaching career at Menlo College. He shares lessons from helping transform programs at William Jessup, Sacramento State, and Illinois State before entering professional baseball with the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

We also explore his experience managing the Blue Jays’ Dominican Summer League team to a championship, what professional baseball taught him about developing players from different backgrounds, and how he has incorporated those lessons into the college game.

Fujinaka explains the vision behind rebuilding HPU, the standards that now define Sharks baseball, and the challenges and opportunities that come with recruiting and coaching in Hawai‘i. He also discusses the type of player who fits his program, the importance of versatility and character, and what it means to create a high-level college baseball pathway for players from the islands.

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Want to play for Hawaii Pacific? Reach out to Coach Dane Fujinaka on X: https://x.com/DaneFujinaka?s=20