On the Scene with Rusty Komori

When Rusty Komori started playing tennis as a freshman at Damien Memorial School, it became his passion. He played on his high school team and at Creighton University. At 24, he became head tennis coach at Punahou School, where he coached the boys’ varsity team to 22 consecutive state championships.

In 2015 he resigned and spent the next two years distilling the principles that had made him a winning coach into his book “Beyond the Lines: Creating a Leadership Culture to Achieve Extraordinary Results” ($16.95; bookshawaii.net/beyond-the-lines.html), published last month.

Komori, 48, is looking forward to book signings, motivational speaking and leadership consulting, and a limited schedule of private tennis lessons in 2018.

JOHN BERGER: I’m sure I’m not the only person to ask why you would leave a winning program and a secure job.

RUSTY KOMORI: When I was coaching, I was only focusing on the 12 boys I had on the team that year. If I’d continued what I was doing I would never write a book, and by writing the book I can share these lessons with more than 12 people a year.

JB: I wondered why each chapter starts with a quote, like Will Rogers’ “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there!”

RK: You never know when a quote is going to trigger and inspire someone when they’re in the heat of the battle or when they’re having adversity.

JB: Can you watch tennis without critiquing it?

RK: It’s difficult because in tennis there are six components. There’s the physical component, mental, emotional, strategical, tactical and environmental. When I’m watching tennis I’m really watching how the player or players are dealing with them.

JB: Who would you most like to play tennis with?

RK: The god of tennis, Roger Federer, of course. I think we’re lucky in our lifetime to be able to see someone so gifted.

JB: How much of being a good tennis player is genetic and how much is training and commitment?

RK: There’s probably like a .001 chance of becoming a Serena Williams or Roger Federer, but you can try to have the same work ethic. Players who have heart seem to reach greatness regardless of their natural ability.

JB: What do you like to do for relaxation?

RK: I like to do a lot of hiking, sing karaoke, exercise, lifting weights, running — and I like reading.