Cavaco resigns as 'Aiea boys basketball coach

Advertiser Staff

Boys basketball coach Rod Cavaco has resigned after 23 years at 'Aiea High School, athletic director Roy Miyoga announced yesterday.

Cavaco, who for several years was head boys and girls basketball and head girls volleyball coach at the same time, stressed that "I'm not using the word retire."

"At this time, it's appropriate to step back for a while, take a little time out," said Cavaco, who is 45. "There are some family issues that I need to take a break for."

He will remain at 'Aiea as assistant athletic director and as a counselor for the class of 2005, and also as a volunteer assistant to girls varsity coach Fran Villarmia-Kahawai, whom he once coached.

"I'll see what might happen in the future ... I've always dreamed of coaching at the collegiate level, if the opportunity arose," he said.

Cavaco, a 1974 McKinley High graduate, joined 'Aiea as a student teacher after graduation from the University of Hawai'i in 1979 and never left. He said he took over as head boys basketball coach in 1986.

He also was head girls basketball coach from 1985 through '95 and was girls volleyball coach from 1984 to '93, he said.

Last year, Cavaco assisted as Villarmia-Kahawai coached 'Aiea to its first girls state championship. Villarmia-Kahawai called him "my mentor" and "our Xs and Os man."

Cavaco's duties included seeking college opportunities for the girls and five of them got scholarships, he said.

As head boys coach, Cavaco's teams won O'ahu Interscholastic Association Western Division championships in 1993 and '95 and were state runners-up in '93. As head girls coach, Cavaco guided 'Aiea to division titles in 1987, '88 and '89.

"I've been real fortunate to be at a good school, with good kids, good staff, and a good community," Cavaco said.

He said he would continue to try to get student-athletes into colleges. "If they have college talent, I think it's my responsibility to try to help them, to find a place for them to go," Cavaco said.

Miyoga said 'Aiea will accept resumes of applicants for head boys coach at the athletic department until April 3.

• Baseball: Wai'anae High is playing host to the East/West preseason tournament Thursday through Saturday at various sites.

Joining the Seariders are 'Aiea and Radford for the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Western Division and Kalaheo, Roosevelt and Moanalua from the East.

Here is the schedule:

Thursday

Kalaheo at Wai'anae, 4 p.m.
Roosevelt at Radford, 4 p.m.\
'Aiea at Moanalua, 4 p.m.

Friday

Roosevelt at Wai'anae, 4 p.m.
Radford at Moanalua, 4 p.m.
Kalaheo at 'Aiea, 4 p.m.

Saturday

At Wai'anae

'Aiea at Roosevelt, 9 a.m.
Radford vs. Kalaheo, noon
Moanalua vs. Wai'anae, 3 p.m.