by Mark Tuufuli and Joshua Wingo // Staff Writers
Coach Sakurai was a dedicated man who put his heart and soul into his students with nothing but love and care. Coach Sakurai would always be that one teacher that you could go to and just talk about life and your problems on a personal level. He has taught many to just be happy and stay focused on the prize. His legacy here at Carson High School was for his students and athletes to always be healthy throughout life. Overall Coach Sakurai tried his best to keep his students physically and mentally healthy by showing us what “Colt love” really means.
Coach Sakurai really helped out The Academy of Medical Arts by showing students “to be successful [and] try your best and not just half do everything”, said Julianne Austria, Junior at AMA.
People may have saw him as a mean person but once you got to know him he was the total opposite. Coach Sakurai motivated Mariana Sanchez to try out for the band, not only did Mariana join the squad she is planning on going all out for Coach Sakurai because of his support.
“Coach Sakurai would always tell me don’t worry about what others have to say about you because what you think of yourself really matters”, said Angel Ibarra Senior at AMA. “I could talk to Sakurai for hours just expressing my feelings to him, he was a great person to be around and we are really going to miss him. Love you Coach Sakurai.”
According to AMA junior Cristina Garibay who had Coach Sakurai for physical education. “He was always honest. He would never let you come out to his class looking down or sad. Even though he was on dialysis for 11 hours a day, he dedicated his time to his students. He would always tell us “to do what makes us happy.”
Coach Labasan and Coach Sakurai worked alongside each other for twenty one years, and this will be the first year without him here.
“Even throughout my experience working with Coach Sakurai he showed me to always love my students and to teach them the fundamentals of life.” said Coach Labasan.
Coach Sakurai was a football and baseball coach, a motivator to his students, and a Dean. Unfortunately, Coach Sakurai passed away July 10, 2017 due to his health issues, but he left his mark on Carson High, and inspired all of his students, encouraging them to be the best. Coach Sakurai will be missed but he will never be forgotten because who could forget a smile so pleasant and graceful that it lit up the room like that anytime he walked in.