Tengan takes over as head coach

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

St. Louis School did not want to look beyond the rugged slopes of Kalaepohaku for its new football coach.

Delbert Tengan, called the "ideal choice" by retiring Cal Lee, will head the St. Louis football program. He will also continue as varsity basketball coach. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Tengan, whom Lee had all along called "the ideal" choice, withdrew his name from consideration three weeks ago but reversed his field last week after being persuaded by players, fellow coaches and administrators.

"A lot of people asked me to reconsider," said Tengan, who has been St. Louis' defensive coordinator the past four years. "I had some long talks and did a lot of praying. Then I had a change of heart."

Tengan also is head coach of St. Louis' varsity basketball team, and the difficulty of heading both programs was a sticking point in early discussions about the football opening.

Last Thursday, Tengan met with Lee, St. Louis president the Rev. Allen DeLong and principal Burton Tomita again to discuss the football job. This time, Tengan agreed to accept the offer, and the officials finalized the decision Monday afternoon.

"I never said, 'No,' I just told them to take my name out," Tengan said of the initial decision. "And they never said I couldn't coach both — they just had concerns. There were no ultimatums. The door was always open (to reconsider)."

He did reconsider, and his latest decision seemed to please everyone on campus.

"I'm real happy he accepted it," Lee said. "He paid his dues and was a loyal assistant for 19 years. He deserves the opportunity to be a head coach. I think he'll do a great job."

Lee, the school's athletic director, guided St. Louis through the past 21 hugely successful years but announced last summer that the 2001 season would be his last as head coach.

Since Dec. 1, the day after the Crusaders' 21-14 loss to Kahuku in the state championship game, Lee had stated that Tengan would be the "ideal" successor.

Tengan actually was offered the position in December, but was allowed until after the basketball season to make a decision. On Feb. 28, he announced he was withdrawing his name from consideration.

"There were concerns about me coaching both sports, which was understandable," Tengan said.

At the time, he said he did not want to relinquish the basketball position because "I had some goals in mind that I wanted for the program and we haven't reached them all yet."

But after withdrawing his name, Tengan was approached by several players, fellow assistants, administrators and others.

"We wanted the same kind of coaching, because it's been working all this time," said Bronson Carvalho, a sophomore offensive lineman. "If they hired somebody from the outside, we would be wondering what kind of coach he is — Is he nice? Where is he from? ... (Tengan) is strict but he knows a lot about football. It's a relief."

Nainoa Nohara, a sophomore linebacker, was coached by Tengan this past season.

"I think he's a good coach, he's organized," Nohara said. "That's who everybody wanted. We're happy."

The players said continuity was important, and the Crusaders were not looking to move in another direction despite not winning an O'ahu Prep Bowl or state championship in consecutive years for the first time since 1984-85.

"We've been doing good with what we have," Nohara said. "I don't think we should change now just because we lost a couple of games."

In addition to being allowed to coach both sports, Tengan said he is "in the process" of working with the school on lightening his class load to accommodate the time demands he will inherit. Tengan teaches physical education.

St. Louis has more than 100 players on its varsity football team, and with the two sports overlapping seasons in November, Tengan will need to pull double duty for several weeks in the fall.

One reason Tengan was thought to be the ideal choice is that he is the only member of the current football staff who teaches on campus.

"Being on the faculty is important," Tengan said. "We need to monitor the kids in school and get information about how they're doing. It's tough to do that if you come from the outside and don't get to campus until 3 o'clock when we start practice."

Tengan said he plans on keeping the entire football staff in place.

"I talked to the defensive coaches, and all of them said they'll be back," Tengan said. "I haven't talked to all of the offensive coaches yet, but the ones I did talk to said they're coming back. Vinnie Passas will still be the offensive coordinator. I haven't decided on a defensive coordinator yet, but I still might be involved in that."

Although he plans on keeping the system intact, Tengan said matching Lee's record won't be easy.

"Everybody knows Cal has raised the bar so high, to maintain it and keep it at that level is tough," Tengan said. "What he's done is remarkable. I don't think we'll see that again in our lifetime."

St. Louis won 16 consecutive Interscholastic League of Honolulu championships and 13 straight Prep Bowl titles — signifying the mythical state crown — from 1986-98. The Crusaders won the inaugural state tournament in 1999 and were a fixture in national rankings during the 1990s, climbing as high as No. 2 at one time.

"I think that when you get into coaching, a big part of it is because of the challenge," Tengan said. "This is a big challenge for me."

Lee said he is willing to help Tengan in the transition.

"But as far as what my role is, you would have to ask him," Lee said. "It's his program now."

Said Tengan: "I want to use Cal as much as possible, in whatever capacity he is available for. He is the greatest resource I have on campus."

Having Lee serve as an assistant, Tengan said, "would be like having Moses interpret the Ten Commandments for you."

Advertiser staff writer Dennis Anderson contributed to this story.