‘Inseparable’ boyhood pals meet up when BYU visits

Whenever Ken Niumatalolo and Jack Damuni get on the phone together, the stories flow and laughter follows.

They reminisce about some of their youthful hijinks, such as sneaking into dances on the campus of Brigham Young University-Hawaii, located in their hometown of Laie.

“We were both tall for our age, so we would try to dance with college girls,” Niumatalolo said with a chuckle.

Speaking to reporters during a virtual news conference, Niumatalolo also recalled throwing water balloons at BYU-Hawaii students and doing other “mischievous things.” Damuni and Niumatalolo love remembering and laughing about the good old days.

“Coach Niumatalolo has the funniest laugh ever,” Damuni said. “I’ll tell a funny story and he will have to put the phone down and laugh for like a minute straight. Whenever I hear that laugh, it takes me back to our childhood days.”

Those two boyhood friends will be reunited Monday night at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium when Navy hosts BYU in the 2020 season opener for both schools.

Niumatalolo will be beginning his 13th season leading Navy football, looking to

house.

“To this day, Kenny is one of the best friends I have in this world. We share a lot of great memories of growing up on the North build on his status as the program’s all-time Shore in a worry-free environment. It was a winningest coach. Damuni, entering his special time for me and my brother Ken. We fifth season as executive director of onhad a lot of fun together.” campus recruiting and community relaDamuni’s father was one of the founders tions for BYU football, will be on the of the Polynesian Cultural Center, among opposite sideline. the top tourist attractions on Oahu. Niumat

Making the occasion even more momenalolo’s father managed the restaurant there. tous is the fact BYU head coach Kalani It was natural for their sons to get part-time Sitake also grew up in Laie, a rural town of jobs at the 42-acre theme park and living 6,138 residents on Oahu. Whenthe matchup museum that is owned by the Church of was announced, Niumatalolo texted Sitake Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. and declared this to be the “all-Laie Niumatalolo worked as a “canoe boy” championship” between “competitive giving tours on the shallow waterways of dudes from the North Shore.” the complex. Damuni danced in the evening

“I think it is pretty sweet,” Niumatalolo shows that are a culmination of daily said. “Talk about diversity. To have two activity at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Polynesian young men coaching against As middle school students, Niumatalolo each other is really cool. and Damuni played for different wards in

“If anybody has ever been to Laie, that the local church-sponsored basketball would make it more remarkable to just see league. how small the town is.” “I was always a poor sport,” Niumatalolo

Niumatalolo became the first Football said. “There would be times when his ward Bowl Subdivision head coach of Polynesian won and I wouldn’t speak to him descent when he was promoted to replace afterward.”

Paul Johnson in December 2007. Sitake Damuni remembers how determined made history as well, becoming the first Niumatalolo was to play quarterback at the Tonga native to serve as a collegiate head youth and high school level. coach when he was hired by BYU in 2016. “Ken always wanted to be a quarterback,

“For Ken and Kelani to step on the but when he tried out for Pop Warner they national stage as the first head coaches of wanted to make him an offensive lineman — Polynesian and Samoan ancestry is pricehe didn’t like that,” said Damuni, noting the less,” Damuni said. “For me to be on the same thing happened when Niumatalolo same field to experience that will be briefly attended Iolani School. unbelievable.” Niumatalolo wound up transferring to

There are many connections between Radford High in downtown Honolulu and the Navy and BYU programs, but none is leading several state championship teams. deeper or stronger than the lifelong friendDamuni, who attended Kahuku High, ship between Niumatalolo and Damuni. would drive from the country into town to They met in the game room of the watch his friend play.

Polynesian Cultural Center shortly after Niumatalolo stayed home to play Niumatalolo’s family moved back to Laie quarterback for the University of Hawaii when he was in the sixth grade. and was working as a graduate assistant

Niumatalolo said “we just hit it off right there when Damuni was being recruited away and did everything together.” out of Dixie Junior College. Niumatalolo

“Our houses were divided by a wall,” he hosted Damuni on his official visit to said. “I’d jump over the wall and knock on Hawaii but knew his friend dreamed of his door to wake him up and go play playing at BYU. basketball.” “It was Ken who told me to follow my

They spent hours playing pickup basketheart and go to BYU,” said Damuni, a ball and football at Laie Park or hanging out standout safety for the Cougars in 1992 and 93.intheneighborhood.’

“We were inseparable,” Damuni said. Niumatalolo followed his mentor, John“When people looked for Kenny and son, to Navy in 1995 and thus began a 21-year couldn’t find him, they would come to my association with the institution. Meanwhile, Damuni got into coaching as an assistant at Maui High in 1997. He coached defensive backs at Mesa Community College, then served as coordinator of the Hawaii Speed and Quickness Complex before being hired by Sitake.

Damuni routinely asked his best friend for career advice and often used him as a reference.

“If Ken Niumatalolo was not in my life and helping direct me with decisions, I would not be where I am today,” he said.

Niumatalolo enters 2020 with a career coaching record of 98-60 and continues to put distance between himself and George Welsh (55-46-1, 1973-1981) as Navy’s winningest football coach.

He has nine victories against archrival Army, breaking the previous record held by the legendary Red Blaik.

“I cannot even express how proud I amof Ken and his accomplishments,” Damuni said. “Ken has been a trendsetter with whatever he does. He’s a great leader and people look up to him. He’s my overall role model in life.”

Damuni made sure he was in attendance when Niumatalolo was inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame during a January 2014 ceremony held at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu.

Damuni and Niumatalolo text before football games to wish each other good luck. Damuni has become a die-hard Navy fan thanks to Niumatalolo, while the latter roots for BYU because it is the flagship university of the Mormon church.

“Obviously, being a member of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, I have great respect for the institution and what it stands for,” said Niumatalolo, whose son Va’a played football for BYU from 2014 through 2017.

After the Navy-BYU matchup was announced, Damuni sent Niumatalolo a text message of thanks because he knew his friend had a big hand in making it happen. The Cougars had seen their 2020 schedule decimated due to conferences canceling, so picking up the Midshipmen was huge.

Damuni last saw Niumatalolo when the Navy coach came to Provo, Utah, to speak to a group of Army veterans at the local Rotary Club.

“Ken is the same person today he was when we were kids,” Damuni said. “Honest, caring, humble and kind are the words I would use to describe him.”