Since taking over the Mt. SAC Men's Track and Field Program, Kamaka has led the Mounties to 3 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Championships (2015, 2016 & 2018), 4 CCCAA Southern California Championships and 5 consecutive South Coast Conference Championships.  He has been named SCC Men's Track and Field Coach of the year five times, California Community College Cross Country and Track Coaches Association State Coach of the Year, twice and SCC All-Sports Coach of the Year, twice (2016 & 2018).

The 2018 Men's Track & Field State Championship Team was arguably the most dominant team and performance in the history of the CCCAA State Championships.  The team scored a record 160 points by scoring in 15 of the 21 events contested.  Two Mounties, Christian Mueller (Pole Vault) and Salvador Capetillo (5,000M & 10,000M) claimed individual state championship titles.  The team dominated in the 3,000M Steeplechase (28 points), Pole Vault (23 points), 10,000M (15 points) and Javelin (14 points), four events that accounted for half (80 points) of the teams record breaking total.

2013 began a new chapter in Mt. SAC Track and Field History, when Ron Kamaka became the 5th Men's Head Coach in Mt. SAC History.  He succeeded legendary coaches Hilmer Lodge, Don Ruh, Evans Roderick and Doug Todd.  Kamaka joined the Mt. SAC Family as a full-time professor and Track and Field/Cross Country Associate Head Coach in 2006.  He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in nearly every event.

In his first season leading the Mounties, Kamaka guided the men's team to a second place finish at the CCCAA State Championships, without a single individual event state champion.  The team also finished second at the Southern California Championships and second in the South Coast Conference.  Under his direction the men's 4X100 Meter Relay Team captured a state championship, while Freshman Hurdler Toure McCully, Sophomore Long Jumper Marquise Cherry and Sprinter/Jumper Dominic Jones were all named South Coast Conference Athletes of the Year.  Cherry also qualified for the USA Track and Field (USATF) National Championships, while freshman Kyree King, qualified for the USATF Junior National Championships in the 200 meters. 

Prior to arriving at Mt. SAC, Kamaka served at Cal State Fullerton for 12 years as an Assistant Coach (8 years) and Associate Head Coach (4 years).  During his tenure at Cal State Fullerton, Kamaka guided 5 NCAA Division 1 All-Americans and numerous conference and all-conference award winners.  His technical knowledge has been chronicled by NCAA qualifiers such as Brandon Campbell, Matt Turner, Kurt Webber, Joe Thomas and Jonathan Golden in the jumps and former Mt. SAC Pole Vaulter and 2004 Olympian Giovanni Lanaro.

At Mt. SAC, Coach Kamaka’s focus has primarily been on the horizontal jumps and Multi-Events. This season he will work primarily with the Long and Triple Jumpers.  Kamaka has guided numerous individual athletes to conference, regional and state accolades including State Champions Marcus Pope (400 Hurdles), Tomek Cerwinski (Decathlon), Nate Koch (Decathlon) and State Runner-ups Brandon McLaurin (Triple Jump), Justin Bethea (High Jump) and Miles Pollard (Decathlon).

A former California Community College High Jump Champion while at Santa Rosa Community College, he later competed at Arizona State University where he jumped 7’03”1/2 and was PAC 10 Conference Runner-Up.  Two highlights of his athletic career include being inducted into the Santa Rosa Community College Athletic Hall of Fame (2000) and the Rancho Cotate High School Hall of Fame (2010) for his athletic accomplishments in Basketball and in Track and Field. 

A native of Hawaii, Kamaka received his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Sonoma State University and his master’s degree in Physical Education from Azusa Pacific University.  In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, fishing and meeting new people.  He currently resides in Irvine with his lovely wife Lynda.  They are proud parents of 3 grown children and  7 grandchildren.

updated on 06/28/18