POULSBO — North Kitsap High School’s girls basketball team will be getting used to a new leader for the 2006-2007 campaign, but consistency will remain as last year’s JV coach Kaelea Makaiwi-Barreith takes the step up to head coach.

Makaiwi-Barreith has been an assistant under former head coach Dan Weedin since 2003. Most recently, she took over the head coaching spot of the NKHS boys track and field team — where she is leading a driven group of athletes to new heights. And April 27, she was appointed the newest head girls basketball coach.

“I think it will carry over cause that’s just who I am … I’m a ball of energy and the kids really thrive on that,” Makaiwi-Barreith said of her coaching style. “I’m good at establishing relationships with (the kids) and I think that’s key, too.”

As a former high school standout on the basketball and volleyball courts, Makaiwi-Barreith is in tune with many of the dreams and scenes that athletes are going through. She is also aware of the attitude and preparation that can produce success.

As a four-year letter winner in both basketball and volleyball at Raymond High School, Makaiwi-Barreith made an appearance at the state championship in each high school year other than her senior year which was shortened by an ACL injury.

“It’s been a dream of mine that I want to be a head coach and experience a championship from the other side,” Makaiwi-Barreith said.

But she said, she is planning to start at the ground-level and take it one step at a time as head coach. She is already putting together a summer schedule, and though she won’t be taking the team on a loaded tournament circuit, she plans to get the girls’ hands on the basketball throughout the summer and fall.

“Instead of trying to go out gung-ho and trying to do all the camps out there … I’m just going to take it steps at a time and really focus on getting the girls out because our numbers have been down,” she said. “As long as they are working on their (game), I’m OK with it … summer and fall are big seasons to be working on your skills.”

Makaiwi-Barreith said she has begun thinking strategically about the upcoming season, but the specifics of her system will depend on her players. In terms of staying with the old system or bringing in something new, she expects a combination of both consistency and change, but to what extent remains to be seen.

Regardless, her experience coaching the JV squad for the past three years should lend itself to constant relationships between herself and her players.

“I need to instill in them kind of the same belief system that we’re using (in track and field),” Makaiwi-Barreith said, noting the success the track team is finding through its individual and team goal setting. “Which I did with my JV girls (last year) so I think that they’ll be able to buy in to that.”

Many of those JV girls will be stepping into the varsity realm next year, and Makaiwi-Barreith is already envisioning the need for the entire team to take on an invigorated attitude to the next level.

“My main goal: I just want to have the passion back for North Kitsap girls basketball. I want to get people to come out because they want to come watch our girls compete,” she said. “With that support, then the wins and losses can take care of themselves.”