RON KATO - Head Coach

Coach Ron

Ron Kato brings more than 30 years of teaching and coaching experience. He has successfully coached every varsity sport imaginable (swimming, softball, golf, football, track & field) but his greatest success has been on the hardwood leading boys’ basketball teams. He is the winningest coach in Eagle Rock High School history, where he won 7 Northern League Championships and an unprecedented 5 in a row from 2004 to 2008! Last year he led one of his most inexperienced squads to the Los Angeles City Finals at the Sports Arena. Coach Kato has also directly helped numerous students receive NCAA athletic scholarships and currently has 2 former students playing professional basketball in the Philippines.

Coach retired from teaching last year and enjoys golfing, cuddling with his lovely wife Diane, shopping at Nordstrom, eating sweets, and spending time with his kids, Kristopher and Erin.

Coach Robin

ROBIN MIDORI ISHIBASHI - Head Coach

Robin Ishibashi is a graduate of Whittier College (2003) where she majored in Kinesiology. She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and a USA Weightlifting Cer tified Club Coach.

Robin graduated from Schurr High School. She continued her education at Whittier College. During her four years at Whittier College she played intercollegiate basketball and was a 4-time All-Conference selection for the SCIAC. She was also a 4-time team MVP, 3-year Female Athlete of the Year, and 2-time All-American. Robin has four years of college coaching experience with her alma mater, Whittier College, as well as with Chapman University.

Robin is a pastYonsei player herself, playing onYonsei II which was the first year they took a girls team to Japan. She played on the Shimane trip and they went undefeated. She is the first Yonsei player to come back and be a head coach for aYonsei team.

Robin currently works as a strength and conditioning coach and loves to see the athletes she trains improve not only in their sport but also as people. She also does personal training for people of all ages. She is looking to return to the coaching world and pursue her Master's Degree in Exercise Science when she returns from Kochi.

Robin is thankful for the opportunity that theYonsei organization has given her and is looking forward to the trip and the future of the girls she is coaching. She is also very thankful for her parents who have guided her with unending support. Robin lives in Alhambra with her boyfriend Ryan, and their dog Chipper, and cat Kitty.

TIM PARK - Assistant Coach

Coach Tim

Tim Park has 15 years of coaching experience in volleyball and basketball. After playing both sports at Occidental College, he returned to coach at his alma mater, Eagle Rock High. He assisted Coach Kato in turning around the boys’ basketball program and led the ‘97 volleyball team to an undefeated season and its first CIF Los Angeles City Championship. Tim recently received his MBA from UCLA and currently works as a statistician in aerospace engineering.

Coach Kimberly

KIMBERLY HAYASHI - Assistant Coach

Kimberly has been involved playing and coaching basketball for 20 plus years now. Over the years, this included playing at Esperanza High School, coaching NJB, NJB All-Stars,VFW, Pioneer High School, Newport Harbor High School, and at various basketball camps. She continues to play basketball (with Coach Robin!) on the Wanjettes Rebels.

Kim holds a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University and a bachelor's degree in management and marketing from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. She currently owns her own event production business, specializing in philanthropic and social events as well as leadership conferences and seminars. Producing various youth leadership events is a great passion, being the most rewarding and enjoyable part of the job!

In her spare time, you can find her participating in community organizations, at sporting events, traveling, at Disneyland and enjoying time with friends and family.