Shadrack Nabea is in his 12th year as head coach for the Chaminade University men's and women's cross country teams. He served as the programs' assistant coach from 2008-13 before being elevated to the head position in July 2014.
The 2024 season saw yet another successful campaigns for both women's and men's squads. The ladies captured the Hawai'i Hilo Invitational on Oct. 5 while Maria Steinke won consecutive races in the Chaminade Invitational and at UH Hilo. Nikiji Dayse won her first career race at the Oct. 12 Hawai'i Pacific Invitational. The duo helped the Silverswords advance to the NCAA West Regional for the second straight season. Meanwhile the men were competitive as well, especially with senior Peter Ramos, who completed his fifth year by being the team's No. 1 finisher in all five races including a first-place finish at the UH Hilo Invitational. He and fellow senior Conor McMahon would advance to the NCAA Regionals as individuals. Ramos' work throughout the season would earn him Chaminade Athletics' Male Athlete of the Year, becoming the first cross country runner in 11 years to earn the distinction.
In 2023, both Silversword teams had one of their most successful seasons. The women finished ahead of both local rivals Hawai'i Hilo and Hawai'i Pacific in all team countable races for the first time in recorded history including a team win at the UH Hilo Invitational on Sept. 30, ending with a berth at the NCAA West Regional in Monmouth, Oregon, the team's first postseason appearance since 2012. Steinke, who transferred in, and Dayse, as a freshman, finished 1-2 at the Hilo race.
Meanwhile, the 'Swords men were highly competitive against HPU throughout the year with freshman Mason Stewart earning two medalist honors at the Chaminade and UH Hilo Invitationals. Stewart and Peter Jan Ramos would represent the men's team running as individuals at the west regional.
The women had a successful year in 2022 finishing ahead of UH Hilo twice, and an eighth-place finish in the Pacific West Conference Championships at Oyster Bay Regional Course in San Leandro, California. Sophomore Zoe McDonough had a fantastic first year with a PacWest Runner of the Week award and a medalist finish at the Chaminade Invitational, giving the program its first race winner in a decade.
In 2019, both men's and women's teams posted strong seasons. In the year's opening meet, the Hawai'i Big Wave Invitational at Kahuku Golf Course on Aug. 1, the Silversword ladies finished ahead of Hawai'i Hilo in the team standings for the first time in nearly four years. Freshman runner Alena Albertson capped off a fantastic season by becoming the first 'Sword to qualify for the NCAA Women's West Regional since 2012.
Nabea makes sure his runners get the job done in the classroom. Since taking over as head coach, 62 Silverswords have been named Academic All-Pacific West Conference, 33 from the women's team and 29 from the men's squad.
Nabea came on board in 2008 under former head coach Masako Sagawa after having served as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, Hawai'i Pacific University, for two years. He was an all-PacWest cross country selection at HPU from 2000-02.
Originally from Kenya, Nabea arrived in the United States on a track and cross country scholarship, attending Meridian Community College in Meridian, Miss., where he was a regional champion in 1999 before transfering to HPU.
He earned both his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and MBA from HPU, his doctorate at Argosy University, Hawai'i and Master of Science in Accounting from DeVry University.
A long-distance specialist, his personal best times are: 3:47 (1,500 meters), 14:40 (5K) and 31:58 (10K).
Nabea and his wife, Shemeeka, have four children; Shadrack, Jr., Gakenia, Isaiah and Martharuth. His hobbies include running and nature hiking.
