ILH football preview
St. Louis coach Lee ready for last crusade
| • | Cal Lee's record |
| • | ILH team capsules |
| • | New ILH schedule still needs tweaking |
| • | List of ILH football champions |
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Cal Lee always wanted to be a St. Louis Crusader.
Advertiser library photo
"I knew the alma mater when I was fifth grade," Lee recalled. "I knew all my rosaries and everything. It just didn't work out. I wasn't one of the chosen few."
It's hard to believe, but Cal Lee was once fired by St. Louis School after his team went 2-7-1 in 1972. Lee has more than made up for that inauspicious start, guiding the Crusaders to 17 ILH titles, 12 Prep Bowl victories and one state championship.
He didn't make it to the slopes of Kalaeopohaku as a student, but he has more than made up for it as the school's football coach.
After 31 years — the last 20 as head coach — this will be Lee's final Interscholastic League of Honolulu season.
He will leave as the winningest prep football coach in the state. Lee has a 231-31-4 career record, and is the only Hawai'i high school coach to win 200 games.
"I guess I wasn't ready for St. Louis in high school," said Lee, a 1964 graduate of Kalani High, where he lettered three years in varsity football. "The Lord had another plan for me. After I developed my education, developed my character, then I came back here."
With 15 consecutive ILH championships (17 overall), 12 O'ahu Prep Bowl trophies and a state championship, followers might be only familiar with the success. But it wasn't that way at the outset for Lee, whose success didn't begin until his second tenure as coach at St. Louis.
Lee's coaching debut was in 1972. Known for the run-and-shoot offense today, the Crusaders ran the triple option that year.
"That was the big thing in college back then," Lee said.
The Crusaders tied for fourth in the five-team league, finishing with a 2-7-1 record. Lee said he was fired after the season.
Lee joined his brother, Ron Lee, now University of Hawai'i receivers coach, who was brought in to build the Kaiser High program.
Kaiser entered varsity play in 1972. The first couple of years, the Cougars tinkered with the I formation, but after learning about the run-and-shoot from Darrell "Mouse" Davis at Portland State, the Lees decided to change offenses.
While most O'ahu Interscholastic Association teams used their brawn for running the ball, the Cougars took off with the pass.
"We looked at our personnel," Cal Lee said. "With smaller kids, our receivers could match up and compete better. We could throw against over-sized teams."
The run-and-shoot helped Kaiser win the Prep Bowl in 1979 — the only school from the OIA East to accomplish the feat.
When Lee became coach for his second term at St. Louis in 1982, he brought the run-and-shoot along. Despite a 3-8-1 record, progress was being made.
"That '82 team was young," recalled Pac-Five's Don Botelho, the dean of coaches now in his 37th season. "You could see they were well-coached."
It showed every season since. There would be two interruptions among the 17 ILH championships, by Pac-Five in 1982 and '85. Only Leilehua and Kahuku forced the Crusaders to take home runner-up trophies at the Prep Bowl and state tournament.
At one stretch, the Crusaders had a 55-game winning streak, still a state record. A number of players received college scholarships. Three now play in the NFL: Chicago Bears center Olin Kreutz, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala and Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola.
With rosters of 100 or more players over the years, Lee has learned to be diplomatic. That's why he could not name any favorite player.
"There's just too many," said Lee, who turns 55 in October.
While the players changed with every graduating class, Lee's assistants were a constant. Their loyalty, Lee said, is as much a credit to the program's success as the players.
"When those guys hooked up with me, they saw the bad times," Lee said. "The first year was a bad time. But the very next year, we had success. They're very loyal and dedicated to the school in a lot of ways by taking vacation time to coach. They feel the same way I do. They all enjoy kids. They're all professionals."
Getting involved in football was a natural progression for Lee. Older brothers, Tommy (who coached St. Louis in 1971) and Ron, have always been coaches.
"I've always enjoyed the game," Lee said. "Playing football was something the family did. Our parents pushed upon the importance of education and keeping us involved in something after school, so we played sports. My brothers were pioneers, going away and continuing at the college level (as players and coaches). I just flowed (with them)."
Lee said he does not know what he will do after the season, although it has been speculated a coaching job is waiting for him at UH.
"I enjoy the game," Lee said. "It's a wonderful game. It prepares you for life, teaches you to never give up. It teaches you how to work with people."
