2012 – Mike Vasconcellos

Location: Pacific Beach Hotel
Date: Friday, March 16, 2012
Keynote Speaker: Pal Eldredge
Emcee: Kanoa Leahey

The late MIKE VASCONCELLOS directed the Chaminade athletics program in the 1970s through the 1990s and was the driving force in leading the Silverswords into Intercollegiate Athletics.  It was Vasconcellos who hired Merv Lopes, who would lead the Silversword Men’s basketball team to the biggest upset in college basketball history over No. 1 Virginia in 1982.  The victory rocked the sports world and led to the creation of the Maui Classic in 1984.  The tournament, now called the Maui Jim Maui Invitational hosted by Chaminade University, has garnered the reputation as the premiere basketball pre-season tournament in the nation.

Vasconsellos passed away in December 2014.