What started as a “temporary” job in 1971, UH’s first season competing in NCAA Division I, turned into a 30-year stint as the Rainbows’ head coach.
Murakami’s record of 1,079-648-4, included six Western Athletic Conference titles, 10 NCAA Regional appearances, and a runner-up finish in the 1980 College World Series.
Murakami coached Sheridan in the AJA League, borrowing their orange, green and white uniforms for his early UH teams. The color scheme stuck, with one of the hues known as “Sheridan orange.”
Murakami developed local talent into stars, such as Gerald Ako, Derek Tatsuno, Greg Oniate, Randy Oyama, Billy Blanchette, Mario Monico, John Matias, while blending with Glenn Braggs, Rick Bass, Chuck Crim, Thad Reese and Bryan Duquette, among several. Murakami sent 74 players to pro baseball, including 10 to the major leagues. Tatsuno referred to Murakami as a “pied piper.”
In acknowledgement of Murakami’s diligence and political pull, then-athletic director Paul Durham was surprised to notice there appeared to be a construction project underway in the quarry where the on-campus athletic facilities were located. That project became UH’s first baseball field, complete with metal bleachers and his wife Dot Murakami’s makeshift concession stand.
In 1984, the field was transformed into an $11.2-million project christened as 4,312-seat Rainbow Stadium.
Murakami coached the Rainbows until he suffered a stroke on Nov. 2, 2000.
In 2001, Murakami was named to the UH Circle of Honor. He also was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame.
In 2002, UH’s baseball stadium was renamed Les Murakami Stadium. “This has always been the house that Les built,” said Hugh Yoshida, who was the athletic director at the time.
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[2/22/26] A lone shout from the stands at Les Murakami Stadium came during a lull Friday in the celebration of the facility’s namesake’s induction Opens in a new tab into the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
“LONG OVERDUE!”
Gerald Ako, a soft-spoken man with a sly sense of humor pondered that.Gerald Ako, a soft-spoken man with a sly sense of humor pondered that.
“Yes, I wondered why it took so long,” said Ako, one of Murakami’s first great pitchers. “He must have won a lot of games since 2000.”
That was the year Murakami retired because of a stroke.
For the record, his UH teams went 1,079-570-4 from 1971 to 2000. He led the Rainbows to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and the 1980 College World Series, where the ‘Bows finished second. They had two chances to beat Arizona once for the championship, but the Wildcats won both.
But everyone at the stadium Friday either knew, or learned very quickly, that Murakami means much more to baseball here than the numbers.
“He turned the program into (Division I),” said Derek Tatsuno, who in 1979 became the first college baseball pitcher to win 20 games, and later was named one of three players of the century by Collegiate Baseball newspaper.
Ako noted that orange is among UH baseball’s team colors because the ’Bows had to use uniforms from Murakami’s successful Sheridan teams that played in Oahu amateur leagues.
“Maybe it’s just his time,” said Tatsuno, a member of the inaugural Hall of Fame class (2006). “As a former inductee, we all get to vote, and I voted for him every year. … I was so happy when he got finally got in.”
The announcement came last summer, but the celebration was held Friday, so Murakami — who turns 90 on June 1 — could receive his blue jacket before a game, from Tatsuno and former Wichita State coach Gene Stephenson, his friend and rival who is also a Hall of Fame member.
More than 50 of Murakami’s players and a long line of fans braved the weather to attend the festivities, and the 2026 ’Bows came through with a 4-2 win over the Shockers.
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