Merv Lopes, whose upsets over heavily favored opponents earned his Chaminade University men's basketball teams' moniker as "Giant Killers" and himself the nickname "Merv the Magician," passed away on Thursday on Hawai'i Island. He was 92.
Lopes, whose career as Silverswords head coach spanned 12 seasons, is the winningest coach in program history with a career record of 238-118.
The Nanakuli native, who in his younger years never thought he would be destined for greatness, was hired as Chaminade's head coach in 1977. A year later, he guided the Silverswords to the NCAA Division III Tournament before falling in the national quarterfinals.
Dec. 2, 1981 was the first of the great upsets when the Silverswords, now a member of the NAIA, surprised South Carolina, 76-66. On Dec. 16, 1982, the team thought their season was made with a win over neighboring University of Hawai'i Manoa. But what happened six days later on Dec. 23, Chaminade – and college basketball – was changed forever.
On that infamous day, the 'Swords pulled off what many consider today as still the greatest upset in college basketball, a 77-72 win over the University of Virginia, at the time ranked No. 1 in the nation, led by All-American center Ralph Sampson. The shocker sent ripples throughout the nation and put Chaminade on the map.
Ultimately, it led to the creation of what was first called the Silversword Invitational. It is known today as the Southwest Airlines Maui Invitational, considered by many to be the top preseason basketball tournament in the country. The creation of the tournament, changed the trajectory of the university and the athletics department to this day.
But was the Virginia upset a one-off? A once-in-a-lifetime fluke? Not quite. Lopes helped orchestrate more shockers. In December 1983, 14th-ranked Louisville fell to the Silverswords. Then on Dec. 22, 1984, Chaminade did it to Louisville again, this time ranked 15th. And if that wasn't enough, just three days later on Christmas Day, the Silverswords cemented their "Giant Killer" status with a 71-70 shocker over No. 3 SMU.
Lopes compiled seven career wins against Division I competition, which also included Davidson College in Chaminade's first-ever Southwest Airlines Maui Invitational game in November 1984.
Outside of his team's reputation for the major upset, there were the legendary battles with the University of Hawai'i Hilo and Vulcans' coach, the late Jimmy Yagi, which helped raise the profile of Hawai'i small college basketball. Competition between the two teams was so popular, several games were moved to what is now the Blaisdell Center to accommodate the droves of fans from both teams. Lopes had a 17-11 record against Yagi's Vulcans during his career.
Growing up in Nanakuli, Lopes had the opportunity to attend Iolani School, making the several hours-long commute from the westside of O'ahu to Honolulu daily. Under the tutelage of the legendary Iolani coach Father Kenneth Bray, Lopes played football, basketball and baseball, which eventually led him to playing football at San Jose State, where he was a teammate of future Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh.
After returning to Hawai'i, he entered the Department of Education and was a school counselor by day, and at night, coached at Kailua and Kalaheo High Schools from 1972 through 1976. Lopes won a state title at Kailua in '72 and Kalaheo's first O'ahu Interscholastic Association championship in '76 before accepting the offer from then-CUH athletics director, the late Mike Vasconsellos, later that year.
His style was demanding, as several of his former players would attest.
"Merv's conditioning regiment was brutal," said Mark Rodrigues via Facebook post, who played for Lopes from 1980-85. "He invented the 'Killer,' which was a regular 'suicide' (running drills at the free throw line and back; half-court and back; opposite free throw line and back; opposite baseline and back) but he added another half-court and back, opposite baseline and back, THEN up and down the (McCabe Gym) stairs.
"Merv was ahead of his time. He convinced you that it wasn't a punishment but it was to get your body strong and ready. It got to a point where I no longer dreaded it but I embraced it and wanted to do it."
But Lopes also knew the calming of the mind was just as essential with occasional meditation sessions.
It was also about getting the best out of a blend of local talent with ones from the continental United States. Hawai'i products, like Rodrigues, Chico Furtado, Scott Hanson and Richard Haenisch meshed with mainlanders Tim Dunham, Tony Randolph and Earnest Pettway, to name a few.
And although he never got to partake in any of the big upsets on the court, the late Will Pounds played for Lopes as a power forward from 1976-79 and is still among the school's all-time leaders in scoring and rebounding. Pounds later became an assistant coach for Lopes.
Shortly after stepping away from Chaminade in 1989, Lopes coached in the United Arab Emirates for a year before returning to the States and settled on the Big Island, spending time fishing and golfing and living the quiet life. Basketball, however, never truly left him, helping with Pete Newell's Big Man Camp and other various local clinics. He even returned to the high school ranks, coaching at Hawai'i Preparatory Academy for three years.
His former assistant coach, Sol Batoon, got Lopes involved with the Special Olympics Coaches Clinics for two decades. Batoon also runs a high school basketball tournament named in his honor, The Merv Lopes Classic, which has been in existence for over a decade.
"Coach drove us hard, not out of ego but of belief," Batoon recalled. "He believed we could compete with the best. He believed Hawai'i athletes could rise, given the chance and discipline. He pushed because he cared deeply."
Over the years since, he also attended most of the Southwest Airlines Maui Invitational games in Lahaina and was still recognized by fans and mentioned on ESPN television.
Lopes was the first member of the Chaminade Athletics Hall of Fame, inducted in 2009. His legacy is enshrined at the Hall of Fame Wall at the Athletics Locker and Training Room next to McCabe Gym.
"The Greatest Upset Never Seen," a book written by local author, Jack Danilewicz, chronicling Chaminade's win over Virginia was released in 2019. A documentary by Hawai'i filmmaker Christopher Makoto Yogi titled "Merv and the Miracles" is currently in the making.
Lopes is survived by his wife Sheryl and son Cameron. The family is requesting in lieu of flowers to please make a donation to the Merv Lopes Scholarship Fund by clicking on this
link.
(Please put a dollar amount, under the 'Select a fund' pulldown menu, select 'other,' click 'next,' enter your information and under 'Additional Donor Information/Special Instructions,' please type in "Merv Lopes Scholarship Fund.")
Services are pending.
Below are statements of remembrance from several of his former players and colleagues:
Mark Rodrigues, Silverswords guard (1980-85):
"Aside from my dad, Merv Lopes had the biggest impact on my adult life. He was demanding. He challenged you mentally and physically. In addition to being a great coach and relentless motivator, it was his parables that taught me real-life lessons that I carried throughout life. Some of them didn't register when you're an 18-year-old kid but as I later navigated through life, I found many of his 'Mervi-isms' turned out to be profound and prophetic.
He had football-like drills where he'd roll the ball on the floor and you had to dive for the loose ball. And you better DIVE or, has he put it, 'give up your body.' The winning was great fun. Memorable. But it's those parables that have an even longer – and more important – effect.
A couple of 'Merv-isms' that stick out the most for me:
- 'There are results and there are excuses. And excuses are for losers.'
- 'There are no victims, only volunteers (in context).'
He was right.
-Taken, by permission, from Facebook.
Tony Randolph, Silverswords forward (1982-85):
"I feel blessed that he was mentor in my life, on- and off-the-court. One great moment of many about Coach Merv was minutes before we took the court against Virginia. He said, 'Let's show Hawai'i and the world we can play basketball.' He was a great motivator."
Jasen Strickland, Silverswords forward (1980-84)
"Coach Merv was my coach for four years. But his team effort mentality impacted my life beyond Chaminade in many ways. The life lesson I learned from Coach was: If everyone trusted the process, knew their job and did their job, then goals are attainable. But in life, sometimes you need to make adjustments. He would often say 'Keep your eye on the ball.'
I reached out periodically to say 'howzit' and to catch up. My favorite memory is when he came to hang out for an afternoon at my home in San Jose on one of his Bay Area trips. We spent a long afternoon by the pool, trying to solve the world's problems. He told me he was proud of the man I became. As he was leaving, he hugged me and said, 'You did it!'"
Scott Hanson, Silverswords forward (1983-86):
"Coach was a fierce competitor who drove everyone around him to be their best. If it wasn't your best, he'd let you know! Off the court, Coach was very soft-spoken with introspective. He shared his wisdom freely with the young men he coached and mentored. He was a father figure to many of his players.
Merv coached from the school of hard knocks and tough love. The quotes he shared while coaching have lived on with every player he coach such as 'No blame allowed,' 'When you point a finger at someone else, three of your fingers are pointing back at yourself,' 'Nobody likes to watch losers,' and 'Don't ever try to have a conversation with a drunk,' are a few of my favorite 'Merv-isms.'
My prayers go out to Sheryl, Cameron and the rest of the Lopes Ohana during this time."
Ed Smith, Silverswords forward (1982-84)
"The best word to describe Coach Merv is 'Aloha,' the spirit of giving and love. I experienced Coach's 'Aloha' as a 17-year-old from University High School who had no plans of going to college more to play basketball. Coach provided me with an opportunity at CUH to be a part of a great basketball team and to study and pursue my degree in Business. I am thankful for my experience at Chaminade and my family's sincere sympathy to the Lopes Ohana. God Bless and Go Swords!"
Richard Haenisch, Silverswords forward (1980-84)
"Coach was like a father figure to us all, a squad aggregated from all walks of life, from all over the globe, every economic background and many of us with either criminal backgrounds, scholastic difficulties or even emotional baggage.
Coach was our father, our mentor, our Counselor and 'buddy' at times. While he was known for his yelling during the game, he somehow never seemed to get truly angry with anyone and we respected his urging and pleading, because it yielded SUCCESS for us despite either being outsized or 'supposedly' outclassed by other teams. He never allowed us to feel that way. He showed us how to believe in ourselves, and each other, which serves me to this day.
His son, Cameron, who I had the privilege to play with, personified the gritty nature and "never say die attitude" demanded by Coach. We all looked admired and looked to emulate the seemingly effortless way he floated through life and seemed to be able to handle any situation thrown at him.
He was happiest when he went out fishing, where he was one with the sea. I know wherever he is right now, somewhere up there, where we all hope to get to someday, he is definitely wading in the ocean with a cigar in his mouth and a rod and reel in his hand, reciting philosophy while breathing deeply in and out (my teammates will get that one).
We miss you, Coach!"
Sol Batoon, former Silverswords assistant coach:
"I had the extraordinary honor of working with Coach Merv Lopes from 1976 until his final day. I was privileged to serve as his first full-time assistant and the first full-time assistant athletic director at Chaminade, working alongside Mike Vasconsellos. In 1984, Chaminade brought me and my family back home from Florida where I was coaching at Seminole College and that brought me back to the man and mentor who would forever shape my life and career.
His true victories came off the court, in the lives he touched, the values he instilled and the purpose he inspired.
Coach Lopes was a man of vision but more than that, he was a man of purpose. He didn't just see who you were, he saw who you could become. Whether you were a player, a coach, or a colleague, he got the best out of you, and often before you realized what was inside you. His mantra was simple: 'Just get it done.' And when you did, you became better, not just at the game but in life.
I carry countless memories of hard practices, quiet wisdom, big wins and bigger laughs. I will forever keep his name alive in substance, spirit and service."
Bill Villa, former Chaminade director of athletics (2008-20):
"I didn't know Merv when I was hired at Chaminade. But after I got the athletic director's position, I met him quite a few times. He was very insightful and was a visionary. He was big into psychology, made you think about how things worked and what makes an individual tick.
Merv knew how to motivate. He would get after some players whom he thought needed it. And those players understood his message and didn't complain. And as fiery as he could be, Merv also used meditation many times to get his guys to focus.
I remember talking to Mike Vasconsellos and he mentioned to Merv he liked having local talent staying home to play. And combined with guys from the mainland, he had the talent and skill to motivate them to believe.
Whenever me and my wife went to the Big Island and visited Merv and Sheryl, we would be talking over breakfast and he would motivate me. That's how influential he was."
Dave Odom, former Virginia assistant coach, current chairman of the Southwest Airlines Maui Invitational:
"Coach Merv Lopes made a tremendous impact on Chaminade basketball and the Southwest Maui Invitational. Without his presence, influence and vision, it would have been difficult to get the tournament off the ground.
Just as important, he was a great basketball coach who will always be revered by his peers across the basketball world. Everyone remembers his victory over Virginia. I'll also remember Coach Lopes as a deeply genuine and loyal friend for the last 45 years. I'll miss seeing him at the 2025 Southwest Maui Invitational."
