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Joey Estrella
Joey Estrella has the longest tenure of the University of Hawaii at Hilo staff having been named the baseball coach in 1976.
He was appointed interim assistant athletic director for external affairs from February 1, 2009 to April 30, 2009 and assistant athletic director for community engagement on Friday, October 2, 2009 with the responsibilities of developing corporate fundraising and a booster club.
“It's like the old cliche -- time flies when you're having fun."
Head Coach Joey Estrella begins his 33rd season at the helm of the Vulcan program.
The inaugural 1977 season was a quick one. Six exhibition games were followed by six games with his alma mater, the University of Hawaii.
Estrella's efforts in 1978 produced an 18-game schedule. Although the season started out with a 1-2 loss to Biola College in the first game of a doubleheader, the Vulcans rebounded in the second game to give Estrella his first collegiate win. That win started a six-game winning streak that eventually turned into a 9-3 record. The season again closed with six losses to Hawai‘i.
His third season would be highlighted by his first post-season appearance. Along the way, the Vulcans recorded their first victory over an NCAA Division I program -- a 4-3 victory over Iowa State. That season included Division I victories over Cornell and Nebraska en route to a 21-17 record.
Estrella claimed his first winning season in 1980 with a 25-19 record starting a string of eleven consecutive winning season. During that string, his 1983 team set a school mark of with a 41-10 record and a 0.804 winning percentage, they would make their first Area Playoffs, and also record his first triumph over his mentor Les Murakami and alma mater Hawaii with a 1-0 victory.
Success began to roll Estrella's way in the coming years as post-season play became an assumed event. In 1986, his team swept through the Area Playoffs and made their first appearance in the NAIA World Series. Such success brought Estrella the NAIA District 29 and Area 1 Coach of the Year awards.
His teams would also make the World Series two of the next three years, and Estrella would again be awarded coach of the year awards in 1989.
In all Estrella's NAIA teams have appeared in three NAIA World Series, recorded five NAIA District Championships and participated in 12 consecutive post-season play-offs.
The 1993 season brought in a new era for Estrella as the Vulcans made the move from NAIA to the NCAA Division I level.
Besides being the Vulcans only baseball coach, Estrella has also worn many other hats. From 1976-1980, he also served as an assistant basketball coach. He also served as acting athletic director during the 1980-81 season and officially had the "acting" title removed the following year until July 1, 1989 when he stepped down to concentrate on baseball and teaching.
His collegiate career began at UH Hilo where he played basketball and baseball, both club sports at the time. Estrella transferred to Hawai‘i-Manoa and completed a successful three-year career at shortstop.
He left his mark on the program as the first recipient of the prestigious Jack Bonham Award, presented to the Rainbow athlete who excelled in the areas of academics, community service and athletic contributions.
Estrella received his B.ED in 1974 and continued as a graduate assistant in the Rainbow program for two years. In 1976, he received his M.ED from UH-Manoa.
Estrella and his wife, Geri, have two children, Brandon (23) and Allyson (20).
