Shimabukuro Named 5CTCA State Assistant Coach of the Year
Rachel Shimabukuro, a former Hartnell College runner and now an assistant women's coach for the Panthers, has been recognized as the 2019 California Community College Cross-Country and Track and Field Association Assistant Coach of the Year.
She was chosen by all cross country and track head coaches across the state. The award is given to one assistant coach for both the men's and women's programs, based on dedication to their team, being a role model and overall team success.
Shimabukuro is beginning her fourth year as an assistant coach for both Hartnell cross country and track, having joined the staff in 2017. During her time with the Panthers, the women's cross country team has won three consecutive Coast Conference titles, claimed the Northern California championship in 2018 and 2019 and second place in 2017, and finished in the top four at the state championship for three straight years, including second place in 2018.
"Rachel's contributions to the women's squad are immeasurable," said Chris Zepeda, Hartnell's head coach for men's and women's track and cross country. "She brings personal experience as a community college student-athlete and serves as a positive role model for young women at Hartnell College and in our community."
Zepeda has himself twice been named women's cross country head coach of the year by the California Community Colleges Athletics Association — for 2014 and 2018.
Shimabukuro learned of the award following an announcement on Aug. 11. She said she didn't see it coming: "My initial reaction was, 'Whoa!' That's the best way I can put it."
She plans to continue serving as an assistant cross country coach for Hartnell while pursuing an online master's degree in forensic psychology from Arizona State University.
"I would like to work with Coach Z again for the upcoming seasons and as long as I can before I transition into a full-time career in law enforcement," Shimabukuro said.
She graduated from San Benito High School in 2010, and joined Hartnell in 2014, transferring in 2016 to Metropolitan State University, an NCAA Division II school in Denver, Colo., on an athletics scholarship. She returned to the Central Coast and completed her bachelor's degree in global studies at Cal State Monterey Bay in 2018.
As a teenager in foster care, Shimabukuro attended two other high schools before getting started in track and cross country competition as a junior at San Benito High. Then she had several gap years while working full time to support herself.
During her two years in cross country at Hartnell, she twice was named All-Conference and All-Region, as well as earning All-State and All-American honors in her final season.
Dan Teresa, dean of athletics for Hartnell, said talented assistant coaches like Shimabukoro are key factors in the success of their teams.
"Any great head coach knows that if he or she doesn't have a great supporting cast of assistant coaches, their program will not survive," Teresa said.
Shimabukuro had no prior coaching experience when she began as Zepeda's assistant.
"I didn't know all the numbers or the science behind the workouts like Coach Z, but I knew being a champion is a state of mind before anything else," she said. "There's a saying that goes, 'If you know it, you can teach it' — and all I know is what wanting to win with your team more than wanting to take your next breath feels like. So I taught them what I know."
She recalled the impact of former assistant cross country coach Monica Gilmore, who won the same honor during the years she competed for Hartnell.
"I remember her yelling to me at the state meet in 2015, 'You only have 1,000 meters to catch six women if you want to be All-American. It's now or never!'" Shimabukuro said. "I knew she wasn't telling me to make a move she wouldn't have made herself, so I ignored the pain and chased down six more women to become All-American that day.
"I am hopeful that I was also able to inspire our lady Panthers to achieve greatness like Coach Monica did for me and my team."