SPORTS

Shaun Aguano shows Ohana culture despite loss in first game

BY ZACH ALVIRA

Arizonan Sports Editor

Arizona State’s patented video to welcome the team onto the field didn’t change Saturday, Sept. 24. Sparky still walked through a giant dust storm through the Valley and stomped the visiting Utah Ute bus.

What did change, however, is what transpired below the video board at Sun Devil Stadium in Pat Tillman Tunnel. Arizona State’s captains didn’t emerge before the team. Players didn’t emerge before coaches.

Instead, Shaun Aguano, the former Chandler High head coach who coached running backs for the Sun Devils up until last week when he was named interim head coach, walked with the team with their arms interlocked. It was a show of unity. It was a show of togetherness.

It was to show this new era breeds family. Or, in Hawaiian culture, Ohana. It capped off what Aguano said was an “amazing” week, despite the outcome Saturday.

“It was an amazing week for me,” Aguano said. “To be in charge of these kids and for them to do everything that I’ve asked … the only thing I asked is to play hard and we’ll see what happens.

“I love these guys with all my heart. I told them at halftime and at the end of the game, ‘There will be no quit from me

Former Chandler High School coach Shaun Aguano led Arizona State for the first time as interim head coach Saturday, Sept. 24. While the Sun Devils fell to Utah, he showed passion, humility and emotion, claiming multiple times that he was blessed to lead the team.

(Dave Minton/Arizonan Staff) seeAGUANO page 35

Miles Lockhart taking humble approach to success

BY ZACH ALVIRA

Arizonan Sports Editor

Miles Lockhart admits he never thought football would be his future when he was younger.

He started off as a soccer player, and a self-proclaimed “chubby” one at that. He started to dabble in tackle football when he was 8 years old but never truly fell in love with it right away. His parents, David and Stevie, saw potential in him, even if he didn’t see it in himself.

He stuck with the game and by the time he reached the seventh grade, his baby fat began to fall off. That’s also around the time he started to see what football could offer him. Now in the middle of his junior season at Basha High School, Miles isn’t just a starting cornerback for a Bears team that figures to make a run at the Open Division title this season.

He’s one of the top cornerbacks in the country for the 2024 class while only playing at the position for two years.

“People ask me if I thought this would ever happen,” Miles said. “And, like, no, to be honest. I thought it could happen but it’s just a really humbling experience. To look back on that, you would never really think I would be at where I am now.

“It’s been a great experience.”

Miles’ approach to football is simple: Stay hungry. Stay humble. Never settle.

He helped lead Basha to a 10-0 regular season record last year as a sophomore. But the Bears lost in the first round of the playoffs. That isn’t good enough for Miles.

He’s been a starter at the varsity level since his freshman year, when head coach Chris McDonald saw his athleticism and knew he would be able to contribute at a young age to build what has now become Basha’s core group of players. Yet, he isn’t satisfied without a win in the postseason.

Miles knows the attention that is on him to be a leader and among the top players on a loaded Basha defense. He thrives off those expectations and doesn’t gloat. Instead, he stays humble.

“That has come with maturity,” McDonald said. “He’s also got teammates that are going through the same thing as him. Everyone knows he’s a phenomenal player and we have several phenomenal Basha junior cornerback Miles Lockhart has become one of the top players in the country in the 2024 class. But it didn’t come easy. He had to work for it and follow his parents’ guidance of always keeping a level head and staying humble. It’s paid off.

(Dave Minton/Staff Photographer)

and there will be no quit from my staff.’ We’ll keep working.” What transpired on the field over the course of the next 60 minutes wasn’t ideal. The Sun Devils were virtually run off the field by Utah, the No. 13 team in the country. Many didn’t expect Arizona State to be competitive in the game.

To be fair, that isn’t expected in the Sun Devils’ next two games, either, as they face USC and Washington, two top 15 teams.

But all eyes were on Aguano and the morale of the team. So far, he’s passed the eye test. Players have also gravitated toward him and are starting to buy in to a new mentality.

“Coach Aguano, he worked us this week. Everything he brought, he brought a new juice, new energy,” defensive tackle Nesta Jade Silvera said. “I think the team really appreciates it. We reacted to it well as a team. We had a good three days of practice. We just didn’t capitalize on a great week of practice.

“We still believe in everything coach Aguano is saying … we’ve still got a lot more to play for.” Aguano’s first practice as interim head coach was met with a new tempo. Players sprinted from station to station. After practice, they were forced to do sprints. Media in attendance saw some confusion on the faces of players.

But overall, they started to appreciate a new level of discipline that came with Aguano’s coaching style.

He did the same at Chandler for 20 years, the last seven as the head coach. His teams were always disciplined and this led to success. But it did take time. His ability to turn Chandler into a national power wasn’t overnight.

That won’t be the case at Arizona State, either.

“I think, ultimately, it is going to take a little time. But I think we had a great week of practice, everybody handled the change very well,” Arizona State defensive back Khoury Bethley said. “Ultimately, I think it just comes down to everybody executing. We didn’t do that today, but we played hard.

“If you watch this tape, you won’t see no quit from us. We played hard to the end today.”

Just like he was at Chandler, Aguano was animated on the sideline for his first game. He cheered every successful play or penalty against Utah and scoffed at mistakes or flags thrown against his Sun Devils.

Even when the offense was virtually helpless against a relentless Utah defense, he met every player three yards on the field with high fives and words of encouragement. That carried over to the postgame press conference, where he hugged each player after they exited the room.

“I love you, too,” Aguano whispered to quarterback Emory Jones, who initiated the handshake and hug with his coach that never lost faith in him even after a difficult outing.

“It’s a family thing for us,” Jones said. “We know we’ve got each other’s back. We’re all in this together.”

Just like in his introductory press conference, Aguano showed passion, humility and emotion. He emulates what Arizona State fans want from a head coach – someone who genuinely cares about his players and the program.

The loss wasn’t an easy one by any means, especially the way it transpired. But Aguano took it on the chin and promised a better showing in the weeks to come.

He also thanked Sun Devil fans for the support they gave him in what had been a rough week for the team as a whole.

“This has been a whirlwind week,” Aguano said. “With the Sun Devil walk and (fans) coming to the stadium and all the support they’ve been giving me, I just want to thank them. We’ll get there. I promise you, we’ll get there.

“I am happy and honored to be on this staff and to be the head coach of these kids.”

Arizona State’s next home game will take place Saturday, Oct. 8 against No. 15 Washington. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Aguano led the Sun Devils out as one onto the field. They locked arms and came out to a roar from the crowd. It was a show of unity among a team that had gone through turmoil just days prior. It was also a statement from Aguano, who likes to put a stamp on every program he leads with his Hawaiian culture. (Corey Cross/Arizonan Contributor)

LOCKHART from page 34

players.

“I think for him, he knows he isn’t the only guy getting recognition, so he keeps things in perspective. He doesn’t have to go around and be the guy.”

Miles’ athleticism comes from his family. David ran track and played football at the University of Arizona, where he met Stevie, who played flag football at Arizona. His older sister, Makenzie, became a professional dancer. Mia is currently a junior playing soccer at Alabama A&M.

Along with his parents, Miles was always pushed by his older sisters to succeed. They wanted what was best for him just as much as he does. And like their parents, they saw the potential he had early on.

It took countless hours of training to get to where Miles is today. But he isn’t satisfied. His four-star rating by recruiting websites and countless letters from colleges are great, but he aims to win a championship as a team with Basha.

His ability to become a leader at a young age is something that stands out the most. He’s vocal and not afraid to point out mistakes by himself and others. But he’s also become a role model for younger athletes in the program that aim to have similar success he has with the Bears.

It’s made both of his parents proud.

“As a family, we are extremely proud of him,” David said. “We are certainly glad about what he has accomplished. But we are also proud of how hard he works. He’s taken ownership. He’s committed to being the best possible person and athlete he can be.”

“He’s my baby boy,” Stevie added. “The fact that he is not only a great athlete but more importantly a great student and kid, that’s representing us and our name. That’s a huge goal of mine that my kids can go out and be good people.”

Miles currently holds offers from most Power Five programs across the country. His most recent offers are from Big 12 schools Kansas and Kansas State. Those two were added to the list that includes Arizona State, Iowa, Louisville, Ohio State and Oregon, among several others.

While still nearly two full seasons away, Miles is cementing his legacy within the Basha program. And he’s doing it alongside the likes of junior quarterback Demond Williams, one of his best friends who also began his career as the starter on varsity as a freshman and has blossomed into one of the top quarterbacks in the country.

Their legacy, however, doesn’t involve personal accolades. They want to set Basha up for success for years to come.

“It’s not that I need to leave my own legacy, I want this to be a destination school,” Miles said. “I want this program to win a state championship and be in the national rankings.”

When thinking back to his football career thus far, Miles can’t help but thank his family. He was never forced into playing sports, but when he decided he wanted to he had full support from those around him.

He knows his journey is just getting started, and his future is bright. But keeping a level head is something that is important to him. He wants to let success come naturally.

“It really is a humbling experience,” Lockhart said. “It showcases how my parents raised us. They raised us to never quit and believe in what we believe in. They’re always there for us, they always pushed us.

“I thank them and my sisters a lot for everything.”