Little gestures mattered

New-car owners are impressed with the new features, such as head-rest DVD monitors and hands-free smart trunks. It’s the standards, such as power windows, that are taken for granted.

And so it was with former UH basketball coach Larry Little. The basic characteristics we expect in people — the standards — were what made Little.

He was honest and fair.

He cared about his family, his faith, his friends and his players. As a post-probation coach on a 1970s UH salary, he probably had, like most of us, a triple-digit amount in his checking account. But he and his wife worked hard, paid their bills, and raised three wonderful daughters. He never spoke ill of others — not even the people trying to fire him.

He was a nice guy.

And while that might not sound splashy or new feature-ish, that’s a standard that not every person meets.


Being ordinary is what made Little extraordinary.

* * * * *


Yep, it’s official. Lance Samuseva is now a full-time assistant coach.

It’s a well-deserved promotion.

COMMENTS

  1. WarriorFan702 February 26, 2015 8:58 am

    Rest in Peace Coach Little


  2. seewhy February 26, 2015 8:59 am

    Good morning, Tsaikos!
    RIP Coach Little.


  3. seewhy February 26, 2015 9:05 am

    RE: cappie the dog #98

    I’m not sure. Even the OC16 broadcasters were trying to figure it out. Well Kalaheo’s best player, Kaleb Gilmore is already committed to play for Chaminade. May be he was supporting Gib’s son who also plays for Kalaheo?


  4. Tempmanoa February 26, 2015 9:10 am

    Anxious to see what is in store for us with the new coaches. Once all the titles are settled and everyone is on board, maybe we can hear something about how Chow has organized the staff and his thoughts on how he wants it to work.


  5. seewhy February 26, 2015 9:14 am

    RE: Tempmanoa #4

    Me too. I just hope Chow allows Bailey to implement his offensive scheme.


  6. gigi-hawaii February 26, 2015 9:15 am

    It’s been raining this morning. No need to grumble. After all, it’s better than a drought.

    Sorry to read that Little died after surgery. My condolences to his family.

    And congrats to our new assistant football coach!


  7. NorthShoreFan February 26, 2015 9:41 am

    Guud Morning Tsaikos…bootiful day.

    flash from the past..dennis sallas…the man was an amazing athlete..funny as heck but could playball.
    where are they now?.
    Packy Ryan..last heard he was married and in Japan…


  8. chawan_cut February 26, 2015 9:46 am

    RIP.


  9. clyde February 26, 2015 10:01 am

    Larry Little was the perfect coach to guide UH through the probation, and restore integrity to the program. Just a really, really, nice guy and sharp coach.
    Example: In the 80-81 season, UH played at the notorious Pit in New Mexico (seating capacity 18,000 or so). The arena is dug into the ground, hence the nickname The Pit, and when fans screamed the noise cascaded to the floor, making conversation impossible. But Little had his team prepared, turning to hand signals to call out plays. Crazy, crazy game with the ‘Bows gutting out a one-point win.
    RIP: Coach Little.
    Dennis Sallas was also a great high school quarterback; believe he was all-ILH as a senior. He was at the alumni basketball game last week, but not sure if he laced it
    up. I believe he’s a minister at a church in Waikiki.


  10. Da Punchbowl Kid February 26, 2015 10:28 am

    Prayers for Coach Little and his ‘ohana.


  11. Διογένης ὁ Σινωπεύς February 26, 2015 10:40 am

    Carolyn Berry Wilson – thank you for your generosity – not only to UH and its basketball team – but your contribution to the arts as well.


  12. Old School Dave February 26, 2015 11:23 am

    Rest in Peace, Coach Little. He had a tough road taking over the program after the NCAA penalties and probation. He also took a lot of criticism from fans, but he was always a “gentleman” and a good guy. Condolences to his family.


  13. C-Pop February 26, 2015 11:24 am

    Larry Little was a class act, RIP.
    Congratulations to new full-time defensive line coach, Lance Samuseva. Great example of an opportunity earned from endless hours of volunteer/intern work over years rewarded with full-time job. It goes to show you that hard work and perserverance does pay off. Kalihi boy! Represent!


  14. al February 26, 2015 11:44 am

    Aloha and mahalo Coach Little.
    You represented our island state well and brought back respect to our program.


  15. al February 26, 2015 11:44 am

    Mahalo Carolyn Berry Wilson!


  16. TChahng February 26, 2015 11:46 am

    RIP, Coach Larry Little.


  17. al February 26, 2015 11:49 am

    A shout of healing and comfort to Coach Riley as he continues his recuperation from a recent stroke. Riley was Larry’s assistant who took over the Centennary program when Larry moved to Hawaii.

    And, well, Riley followed his trail to Hawaii.
    Get well Coach!


  18. hitman February 26, 2015 12:33 pm

    aloha everyone !! R.I.P coach larry little & get well coach Riley Wallace !!


  19. Bulla February 26, 2015 12:39 pm

    GOD-Gratulations to newly appointed Coach Lance Samuseva. A hard worker, dedicated and loyal, something novel in today’s coaching industry. Wishing you only the best Coach in all you do.


  20. jjay February 26, 2015 2:09 pm

    Riley’s best friend was Larry Little, Larry’s in heaven now , so Riley, we know you miss him very much , take care Riley , Hawaii loves you.


  21. Na Alii Pride February 26, 2015 2:28 pm

    #20 – ditto. Get well Coach Wallace. You are indeed missed in Hawaii.

    Talk about memories, I’m listening to Mel Proctor broadcast Rainbow baseball. I heard he’s doing this series and will be doing some of the road games for UH baseball.

    Reminds me of listening to him do the Islander games back in the day. After he moved on to bigger and better things, Les Keiter and Allane Elconin started doing Islander games. We had players like Julio Cruz, Rick Sweet, and Ed Watt. Later, we had three pitchers (Fred Kuhaulua, Juan Eichelberger, and Tom Tellman) pitch four shutouts each in the 1979 season.

    Forgive the nostalgia the last two days. Larry Little’s passing has brought back memories of my youth.


  22. bouncingball February 26, 2015 2:55 pm

    Little, Wallace, even Nash had class. The two Arnolds, NO!


  23. Kapahulu February 26, 2015 3:12 pm

    Thanks for bringing back those UH Basketball names from the past.
    I started watching UH Basketball the year before the Fabuous Five.
    UH had a lot of talented players over the years.

    George Ritter and those players at the end of the bench were known as Ritter’s Sitters. They would clap and cross their legs in unison. Had to have some fun since they probably would not get in the game.

    Rogue Harris was 7 Feet 2 Inches tall.


  24. Kapahulu February 26, 2015 3:16 pm

    I just occurred to me that we have just lost a few College Basketball Coaches recently.

    Dean Smith……….North Carolina.
    Jerry Tarkanian..Long Beach State,UNLV, Fresno State.
    Ah Chew Goo…….UH Basketball.
    Larry Little……….Centenary, UH Basketball.

    May they all Rest in Peace!


  25. Kapahulu February 26, 2015 3:18 pm

    #24, Fabuous s/b Fabulous.


  26. Kapahulu February 26, 2015 3:20 pm

    #22
    And Gib Arnold wanted to come to Coach UH Men’s Basketball to help restore The Arnold Family Name!


  27. clyde February 26, 2015 3:25 pm

    Speaking of Rogue Harris … he married former Wahine basketball player Jeanne Young (she was 6-foot-3). Their 6-foot-8 daughter, Ashley, plays volleyball for Arizona. Too bad she didn’t matriculate here.


  28. Cindy Luis February 26, 2015 3:42 pm

    People will remember Ashley’s mom as Jeanne Wade when she played for the Wahine.


  29. graham February 26, 2015 4:03 pm

    Any word on Wynn?


  30. Stephen Tsai February 26, 2015 4:06 pm

    When Allan Elconin went to California, they said his last name was too wordy.
    So he changed to the stage name Allan L. Conin.


  31. Don Weir February 26, 2015 4:13 pm

    North Shore Fan,
    Dennis Salas retired after 25+ years in the Lifeguard service.
    He is a pastor of a church down in Waikiki and paddles OC 1’s and V1’s in Waimanlo.


  32. Don Weir February 26, 2015 4:14 pm

    #31
    Waimanalo


  33. hatakeman February 26, 2015 4:20 pm

    Diverging from today’s main theme, good news for wahine sports. Women’s Swimming & Diving are MPSF Champions !!! Men came in third place in their division.


  34. oldtimer808 February 26, 2015 4:31 pm

    Mahalo Coach Little you did so much with so little rest in peace.
    Congratulations to Samuseva yes good choice. One on my favorite players from the first year the Hawaii Islanders played ball at the old Termite Palace was Carlos Bernier. He had a unique batting stance with his hands high and bat wiggling before striding into the pitch. I think he batted 351 that year along with Bobby Prescott who batted around 301. Both played in the outfield. Don’t forget years later when the colorful Bo Belinski pitched for the Islanders.


  35. Buffoman February 26, 2015 5:07 pm

    Elastomer, I remember those “tickets” we used to get (can’t remember how) for some drawing they had during the games at the old stadium. I think it was for some “scholarship”. I never got my numbers called.

    I used to sit under the Melim clock way out there. Usually alone or with a couple of die hard friends.


  36. Buffoman February 26, 2015 5:08 pm

    Sorry. Oldtimer. Don’t know how I got that other name.


  37. hatakeman February 26, 2015 6:53 pm

    Good news. Wahine basketball beat Long Beach State 47-46.


  38. hitman February 26, 2015 6:59 pm

    welcome coach Jake Cookus to UH football team !! let hope you enjoy your stay in hawaii do a lot kicking off then punting !! let go bows !! way to go lady bows !! great win tonight on the road 64-63 camps !!! ok man your turn let go get this one !! mans basketball game on oc16 tonight at 7pm


  39. NorthShoreFan February 26, 2015 8:06 pm

    TJ must be really happy tonight. Negus is lighting it up!


  40. NorthShoreFan February 26, 2015 8:07 pm

    Dang it, so Na Wahine is league champs?….


  41. NorthShoreFan February 26, 2015 8:10 pm

    Hooo trifecta today..Na Wahine, BaseBows and…?


  42. Marleysdad February 26, 2015 8:11 pm

    You look good out there on center court Mr. Mui.

    Give your client a big high-five from all of Warrior Nation!


  43. oneseason February 26, 2015 8:26 pm

    If Gib Arnold truly believed he was not guilty of the NCAA charges, why wouldn’t he announce the presence of the termination without cause provision in his contract. He would likely have force UH to suspend him, but keep him as the head coach. The best excuse for UH is negligence. No excuse appears to exist for Arnold.


  44. 3-Prong February 26, 2015 9:09 pm

    Northshorefan: …and the Bows in the Stanley! What a day!


  45. leron February 26, 2015 10:44 pm

    #44 Gib was in the stands watching his son’s Kalaheo squad demolish Punahou. The oc16 cameras found him sitting in the corner of the gym. Wonder if he’ll be at SSC for the next round tomorrow?


  46. st. anthony trojan February 26, 2015 11:08 pm

    Gib…must have a few mixed feelings when he goes to the SSC…to watch his son play…no coach…no pass n has to buy ticket now I guess huh..


  47. pollypicador February 27, 2015 12:22 am

    To the other site, where a few of the posters wrote that resume is over rated in regards to LS…I disagree. If a person (Chow) wants to bet on long shots, dark horses, greens…coaches with paper thin resumes…and has a history of doing so (to the detriment)–I’m guessing that person will never learn and will always be a loser.

    With Chow I thought the tide was changing. He was on the right track with the hiring of ex-NFL players, players that were stars in college, high school–and other coaches that were seasoned and had upward trajectory–these are the types of coaches that players and recruits look up to. Now he’s off track again. LS, he can proudly say to a prospective recruit-I’m a hard worker…I started 40 something games in my collegiate career…I played a little football in Italy…however I was never a coach at any level–. Okay. So be it if one thinks that a perspective DL recruit looks at Hawaii. I wouldn’t think so. There has to have been better choices for Chow to make-like I said Chow never learned from his earlier mistakes. This coaching hire kind of reminds me of the former women’s basketball coach (Diaz?)…rah, rah,rah…paper thin resume (coached park league?)…and a lot of anointing from posters, blog hosts–only to see her flop badly. Point is resume is everything.


  48. cappie the dog February 27, 2015 12:25 am

    21.

    20.

    Juan Eichelberger!!!

    It’s the closest the Padres ever got to throwing a no-hitter. Eichelberger’s sole hit was a controversial call supposedly.

    The median age of my Padres chat group is about ten years younger than me. When Edinson Volquez pitched for San Diego, I would explain to them that he was a modern-day Eichelberger.

    While I played for the minor Yankees, the owner’s son, Jeff, played for the majors. Bock, I believe, was the Islanders’ owner’s last name. Pete. You would look over to the fathers drinking beer at Kilauea Park, and think, wow, he owns a baseball team.

    Because Hawaii moved to Las Vegas, I think we missed having Colin Cowherd doing our games by two years.

    The sportscaster who called Danica Patrick a “b****” on live television was on my team.


  49. cappie the dog February 27, 2015 12:30 am

    22.

    At least the patriarchal Arnold recruited Chris Gaines.

    He also recruited Rick Domonkos.

    I knew Hawaii was in for a rough season when one of the scribes described them as Rick Domonkos and the Seven Dwarves.


  50. Maddog50 February 27, 2015 5:20 am

    Really and I mean really like the newly hired coaches. Lance and Jake along with Abe. For those that may question…..energy, enthusiasm, drive coupled with prep serve to get the most out of what you have. Watched Coach Lance You tube of playing days and could only say WOW!!!! Can he get Peni to play like that. Not worried about Kennedy but we do need a few more Lance type guys…..congrats and welcome to you all..


  51. cappie the dog February 27, 2015 5:43 am

    Current RPI for Laura Beeman’s squad: 59.

    Ooooohhh…

    Too bad their next opponent is RPI killer UC-Santa Barbara.


  52. oldtimer808 February 27, 2015 6:17 am

    #49 I disagree. Resume is not everything. Samuseva deserved it and he will do well. Character, loyalty, passion for UH and hard work are all the areas that do not show up on a resume.


  53. Old School Dave February 27, 2015 6:30 am

    Rich Miano’s coaching resume was ….. well, he had no coaching experience prior to 1999, aside from working out with UH players and helping them with their training in the off-season. He turned out to be a decent position coach and recruiter.


  54. tom February 27, 2015 6:58 am

    Marleysdad: Thank you!

    Do you know how hard it is to inhale in front of 5,000 people to tuck in your stomach? Haven’t done that for several years when I was at the beach. Didn’t impress anyone, alas! 🙂


  55. 3-Prong February 27, 2015 7:55 am

    Eh Smile you guys! It’s Alo)(a (patent pending…hehe) Friday in Paradise and there’s a whole lotta winning going on up in Manoa.


  56. Shoko February 27, 2015 8:03 am

    Live long and prosper (in the next life), Mr Spock.


  57. Shoko February 27, 2015 8:10 am

    Congrats to Samuseva. Must be a memorable moment for any coach to get their very first full-time DI coaching gig. Not too many coaches get that chance.


  58. bouncingball February 27, 2015 9:06 am

    #5, do you use that logic when justifying Chow being the head coach? So, we all deserve being losers in football? We deserved Gib too then? There are thousands of individuals in every walk of life toiling for an opportunity at a promotion. To say any one person “deserves” something over someone else is a very nave take on how things work.


  59. bouncingball February 27, 2015 9:11 am

    sorry, #53, not #5


  60. What??? February 27, 2015 9:47 am

    Funny, out of five coaches you hire one with very little coaching experience and all of a sudden you’re off track. It’s not like he hired five new coaches with very little experience.


  61. Stephen Tsai February 27, 2015 9:48 am

    New post: http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=28369


Comments are closed.