Bill Kajikawa

Bill Masao "Kaji" Kajikawa (September 6, 1912 – February 15, 2010) was the head men's basketball coach at Arizona State University from 1948-1949 to 1956-1957, finishing with an overall record of (88-137). During his nine seasons on the hardwood, Arizona State College Basketball played in the Border Conference. He played football and attended Phoenix Union High School, before playing football for the Arizona State Teacher's College Bulldogs from 1935-1936. Bill played baseball at Arizona State in 1935, 1937, and 1942. Kajikawa graduated with his bachelor's degree in education from Arizona State in 1937, before earning his master's degree in education from Arizona State in 1948. During World War II, Kajikawa was a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which was manned entirely by Japanese Americans, and known as the Army's most decorated combat unit. Bill served as Arizona State's head baseball coach in 1940, 1946-1950, and 1952. In seven seasons coaching on the diamond in Tempe, Kajikawa finished with a (55-64) overall record. Bill was also a football coach at Arizona State. He was the Ends Coach in 1950 under Head Coach Ed Doherty, before holding the role of Freshman Coach from 1961-1978 under Head Coach Frank Kush. Kajikawa was inducted into the Arizona State University Hall of Fame in 1982, as part of their Hall of Distinction. On April 6, 1995, Arizona State dedicated their football practice fields in his honor, naming them the Bill Kajikawa Practice Facility. Bill's daughter, Dr. Christine Kajikawa Wilkinson, served as the ASU Interim Athletic Director from 1995-1996, and 2000. Dr. Wilkinson currently resides as the Senior Vice President and Secretary of the University, while also serving as the President and CEO of the ASU Alumni Association. Dr. Wilkinson is a tenured faculty member and Associate Professor at the Mary Lou Fulton Teacher College. She earned her bachelor's degree in education from Arizona State and graduated with a PH.D in Higher Education Administration from Arizona State. Dr. Wilkinson also graduated with master's degrees in Counseling Psychology and Education from California-Berkeley.

Arizona State College Baseball Yearly Coaching Record

1940: (5-9) Overall

1946: (6-6) Overall

1947: (8-8) Overall

1948: (13-10) Overall

1949: (6-7) Overall

1950: (11-10) Overall

1952: (6-14) Overall

7 Seasons: (55-64) Overall

Arizona State College Basketball Yearly Coaching Record

1948-1949: (12-17) Overall and (4-12) in Border Conference play

1949-1950: (12-14) Overall and (10-6) in Border Conference play

1950-1951: (9-16) Overall and (6-10) in Border Conference play

1951-1952: (8-16) Overall and (6-8) in Border Conference play

1952-1953: (13-12) Overall and (10-4) in Border Conference play

1953-1954: (5-18) Overall and (3-9) in Border Conference play

1954-1955: (10-14) Overall and (8-4) in Border Conference play

1955-1956: (10-16) Overall and (5-7) in Border Conference play

1956-1957: (10-15) overall and (4-6) in Border Conference play

9 Seasons: (88-137) Overall

References

• Article on Bill Kajikawa's 96th birthday
• An interview with Bill Kajikawa
• Historical League Co. Arizona Historymakers Biography
• [https://www.historicalleague.org/userfiles/file/Kajikawa,%20b-ohf2567c00-fc3c-4387-aa8d-8afb747a2cb0.pdf Oral History Arizona Historymakers}
• Arizona State Hall of Distinction
• Arizona Republic Obituary