Episode Details

Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. She is beloved in her classroom, on the basketball court, and in the community.

On this episode of the Supercast, we meet the West Jordan High School teacher and head girls' basketball coach, known as Coach Lei. Find out how this former West Jordan High student is changing lives and inspiring winning ways on and off the court.

We're here at West Jordan High School talking to legendary basketball coach Lei. I wanted to make you uncomfortable right from the start by calling you a legend.

Lei Lolohea:
Yeah, you did a great job of that.

Anthony Godfrey:
I know you're very humble about your accomplishments, but I also know that I've heard a lot of positive about you just as people found out I was going to be talking with you today. You've made a really big impact in this community and that's something to be proud of.

Lei Lolohea:
Thank you, I appreciate that.

Anthony Godfrey:
I understand that you were a student at West Jordan High School as well.

Lei Lolohea:
I was, yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about your time as a student at West Jordan High.

Lei Lolohea:
Oh it was, I mean it wasn't as diverse as it is now but it was still probably the best three years of my life. I mean that's when Jim Birch,  Michael Kochevar they were VPs here. Anthony Godfrey:
Oh really?

Lei Lolohea:
Yeah, Argyle was our principal so I mean it is still a small world around here. I loved it, I loved it here at West Jordan.

Anthony Godfrey:
You've already mentioned some of the administrators that were here and Mr. Birch of course was back as principal and is retiring this year. Tell me about some of the other people that had an impact on you while you were a student here at West Jordan.

Lei Lolohea:
I mean George Hughes, he was my coach for a couple of years, and then Carlson Boudreaux became one of my head coaches when I was a senior. But I mean there were so many people. Dan Cowan, he was our athletic director back then as well and so I mean there's a lot. There's a lot. We also had like hall monitors, Gary Erickson, he's still here.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, he is.

Lei Lolohea:
We had JoAnn, she was one of our main hall monitors back in those days too. And she had a big influence on the school as well.

Anthony Godfrey:
When did you know that you wanted to come back to West Jordan High School as a teacher and coach?

Lei Lolohea:
I think after my playing days were done, I knew that there was just more to what I can  give back with the sport, whether it was playing or coaching. I knew that I wanted to come back to my high school and help make an impact wherever I could.

Anthony Godfrey:
And how long have you been back at West Jordan now as a teacher?

Lei Lolohea:
This is seven years of teaching. This is my sixth year as a head coach. But I was also the assistant under Carlson Boudreaux for quite a few years.

Anthony Godfrey:
So even when you were preparing to be a teacher, you were an assistant coach.

Lei Lolohea:
Yeah. And I think that was three, four years. That was like four years under Carlson Boudreaux. So I mean, I've put in some work here at the school.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, no wonder people view you as the heart of West Jordan High School. It's exciting to talk to you about that. So tell