Dane Fujinaka – Head Baseball Coach, Hawai‘i Pacific University
Now in his fifth season at the helm of Hawai‘i Pacific University Baseball, Head Coach Dane Fujinaka has revitalized the Sharks program with a strong emphasis on player development, competitive excellence, and high character.
2025: Historic Year for the Sharks
Completing his fourth season at the helm, Fujinaka led HPU to a 32-22 overall record, marking the program’s fourth consecutive season of improvement. The Sharks finished 3rd in the PacWest regular season and were runners-up in the PacWest Championship tournament. The 2025 squad set multiple program records, including:
- Home Runs (71)
- Doubles (121)
- Hits (598)
- RBIs (407)
- Runs Scored (436)
- Fielding Percentage (.972)
Fujinaka developed his first two All-Americans in Noah Blythe and Bronson Rivera. Blythe was named both the PacWest and West Region Player of the Year, while Rivera earned PacWest Newcomer of the Year. The Sharks also had a program-best five All-Region selections:
- Noah Blythe (1st Team)
- Bronson Rivera (1st Team)
- Tyler Arnold (1st Team)
- Kan Taguchi (2nd Team)
- Skyler Agnew (2nd Team)
Six players earned All-PacWest recognition, including Daniel Johnson (2nd Team). The team also earned PacWest Team of the Week honors three times, while Noah Blythe (2x) and Tyler Arnold earned PacWest Player of the Week nods.
2024: A Landmark Season
In 2024, Fujinaka guided the Sharks to their best PacWest finish since 2016 with a 30-22 overall record and a 17-15 mark in conference play. Under his leadership, HPU earned its first PacWest Conference Tournament berth since 2010. The Sharks led the conference in hits, triples, stolen bases, and walks, while ranking 2nd in batting average and 3rd in runs per game. Defensively, the team broke its own record with a .971 fielding percentage. Eight players were named All-PacWest, with two earning All-Region honors.
Program Growth Under Fujinaka
In 2023, HPU posted its first 20-win season since 2019, leading the conference in triples and stolen bases, and finishing 3rd in runs per game. The team set a then-program-best .968 fielding percentage and had four All-Conference honorees.
In 2022, Fujinaka earned his first career win on Opening Day, highlighted by a Perfect Game from Jack O'Brien. That season, the Sharks improved by eight wins from 2021, ranking 4th in batting average (.287) and tying for 1st in stolen bases (94). Four players earned All-PacWest honors, and the team saw notable improvements across multiple statistical categories including ERA, WHIP, K/BB, and K/9.
Professional and Collegiate Coaching Experience
Before joining HPU, Fujinaka worked in the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system (2019–2021), managing the Dominican Summer League team to a championship in 2021.
He also coached at Illinois State in 2019, helping the Redbirds win a Missouri Valley co-championship and reach the NCAA Tournament, and at Sacramento State, where his catchers set records and ranked among the NCAA’s best in throwing out runners. At William Jessup, he helped turn a last-place team into GSAC champions in 2018. He began his coaching career at Menlo College, where the team led the NAIA in offense and home runs, reaching as high as No. 6 nationally.
Player Development
Throughout his coaching career, Fujinaka has coached 13 MLB Draft selections and four players currently in the Major Leagues.
Playing Career
A standout catcher, Fujinaka played at Sacramento State, where he was an Academic All-WAC selection and helped the Hornets reach their first-ever NCAA Regional in 2014. He started 135 games, batting .246 with 16 doubles and 49 RBIs. He concluded his playing career at Menlo College, hitting .280 with four home runs and starting all 54 games.
An alum of Mid-Pacific Institute, Fujinaka earned All-State and All-ILH honors as a prep standout.
Education
Fujinaka earned his bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from Menlo College in 2016.
