Connect with us

Featured

Kimane Domena Rides Rough Rider Wave To The Top Led By 4th Year Coach

A wave has been building at Roosevelt High School since Head Coach Christian Swain first arrived. The North Portland school once proud and powerful had fallen on

Kimane Domena Rides Rough Rider Wave To The Top Led By 4th Year Coach

A wave has been building at Roosevelt High School since Head Coach Christian Swain first arrived.  The North Portland school once proud and powerful had fallen on some tough times in recent decades from an enrollment and budgetary standpoint.  With the drop out rates as high as any in Portland the home of the Rough Riders needed a spark.

It was 2009 when Coach Christian first arrived and things were not in good shape.  He knew he had his work cut out for him when he saw that they team was on a 21 game loosing streak.

The former Lincoln High Cardinal (1994) knew a few things about North Portland.  You see he had grown up there and with many of his friends was part of a big group of athletes who took the bus across the River every day to Lincoln High School where the grass was greener.  At least they thought so.

After a stint at Shasta JC in California and 7 concussions the Portland boy headed to WOU where he finished a couple years of school.  Football was over for him as a player but the fire burned to become a Coach.

"I Coached for 6 years at McKay High School under Jay Minyard.  That was a terrific experience," said Swain.  "When the Roosevelt Head job opened up I had to take a shot at it."

Returning to the Peninsula meant coming home and this time he came with perspective and a wealth of experience.

"I took a rough path to get back here.  I was not a good student and my priorities were messed up.  Like most kids I figured I knew it all."

One thing he knew coming in to the job in 2009 was that the talent was there at Roosevelt.  All he needed to do was to find a way to get the kids invested.

Enter Nike.  The worlds super-power in sports has done some great work in the community.  And somehow they saw the plight of the Roosevelt School.  They know like most of us sports nuts that a good athletic program is a source of pride and a spring from which all things can flow.  Nike has helped monetarily and the facilities have had a major upgrade.  

Two of their Executives serve on the Roosevelt Youth Football Board and have been imstrumental in getting the program built back up.

"That has been huge.  The Kids, Fans, families, and community support is really on the rise and we have Nike to thank for so much of that," added Swain. "It was a big missing piece.  The Rough Rider Pride is there more then ever now."

So how has his 4 year tenure gone?

"That first year we were 0-9.  in 2010 we were 4-7.  Last season we were 7-4.  And this year so far we are 2-1 and are encouraged," said Swain.

They should be especially when you consider the talent there at Roosevelt.  We featured a number of these guys in our PROJECT PIL story this week.

Leading the way this season is Sophomore QB Kimane Domena.  The 6'2"-183 pound dual-threat QB is showing he can be the real deal.  A kid from the neighborhood who stayed home and rejected the options to leave for greener pastures.

Check This Out:  3 Game Stats 2012

  • 676 yards passing
  • 36-59 passing for 62% Completion
  • 6 Passing TD's – 2 Interceptions
  • 307 Yards Rushing on 36 attempts
  • 8 Rushing TD's Averaging 8.7 yards a Carry

"This is the type of kid we have here. Great talent just waiting for a chance.  Kimane is one of them.  He is hard working and understands what he needs to do to succeed," said Swain.  "It is hard to imagine with his skill he will not have big time programs coming for him soon."

What about Kimane?  What is his take on all this revival at Roosevelt.

"I have been here since 3rd grade and playing football since 5th grade.  So I have seen all this happen and to be a part of it is amazing.  We are so blessed to have Coach Swain and all the other coaches here.  And Nike has given us a place to be so proud of," said the youngster who is being trained by legendary PSU and NFL QB and Coach Neil Lomax who is on staff at Roosevelt.

Has Lomax been big to his success?

"Oh Yes!  He has taught me so much.  He is a great Coach and besides being a good QB Coach he has taught me to be patient and to expect the most from myself too.  He can be pretty tough when he wants to be but that is OK because I am going to have to face that at the next level too."

How about grades?

"Going great.  I am hitting all passing grades and have a solid Goal to be an A and B student.  And that is something that is stressed here at Roosevelt too," concluded Kimane who is a point guard on the basketball team and plans to run track this season.

Domena lists his speed as his primary asset.  He said he is getting faster and better as a passer.  On most nights he is the speed merchant you do not want to see coming as he is hard to match.

"It's Character development.  That is job #1.  We verbalize that daily.  We spend an hour a day at practice on academics.  There are two tutoring and academic coaches.  That has had a fundamental effect on this program and these kids," said Swain. "People want to win but don't think about character.  So we stress that."

The Rough Riders are taught to be a Class Team, to have Unity, and to work to their Maximum Potential.  Doing those things will lead to their ultimate goal of winning a League Title and more.

"If these kids stay here and work we will succeed.  We knew and always believed that.  Now it is happening and we are going to continue on this path," continued Swain.  "There are some great days ahead for Roosevelt."

Surely there are.  Catch a game if you can and support these Coaches and kids in their efforts.

 

I am the Founder of the Northwest Prep Report. For 17 years I have led the way to the best of my ability to promote the best talent from the Pacific NW free of charge. It is my pleasure to continue to serve High School athletes from all over the Pacific NW and beyond. Formerly with Rivals.com my sites have now crossed over 8,000 stories, 7 MILLION Video Views, and 15,000 regular followers. Together with the best football people in the USA we pursue excellence for our NW athletes.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in Featured