Health woes prompt Islander head coach Benjamin to quit

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

Just five games into their inaugural arenafootball2 season, the Hawaiian Islanders are embarking on a new era.

Benjamin said he was forced to miss last week's game against the Tulsa Talons because of an irregular heartbeat. Carlson took over on an interim basis and the Islanders (1-4) lost 70-42 to extend their losing streak to four games.

According to Benjamin, his irregular heartbeat strikes only when he's coaching. He recalled similar experiences while an assistant coach at the University of Hawai'i and Stanford, and as head coach of the Indoor Professional Football League's Hawai'i Hammerheads.

Last Thursday, Benjamin said he "woke up feeling like I had just run a marathon."

He also experienced shortness of breath and light headedness, and drove to Kuakini Medical Center's emergency room where he was prescribed medication.

"You can have a stroke or cardiac arrest from it," Benjamin said. "It's not good when you're in it. I need to avoid situations that trigger or cause that."

He added: "I haven't had a full night's sleep in three months. I'm looking forward to that."

Benjamin said he will remain with the team and help develop the players and coaches.

"I hope everything goes well for him," said linebackers and running backs coach Darren Hernandez. "This is larger than any football game or team, when talking about the health of somebody."

Carlson relinquished his role as general manager to take the head coaching job. He also has served as wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator in the past three months.

"I have complete confidence he'll do a good job," said Benjamin, who hired Carlson after being named head coach on Sept. 20, 2001. "I'm glad to see he's gotten a chance."

Said Carlson: "Guy has a lot of experience. He's actually mentored me as far as a lot of the offense goes and I respect him very much. That coming from him is a great compliment."

Carlson, 30, is believed to be the youngest head coach in the 32-team af2.

"I don't look at anything like age," Carlson said. "I could be 40 and have my first (head coaching) job or I could be 22 and have my first job. There's one thing that comes to mind as a football coach and that's get victories, improve the guys on your team to be better people, better players."

Carlson said the players have been receptive to his hiring.

"We'll just fall right behind him and have him lead us," lineman Tiki Sagapolutele said.

The Islanders will play the San Diego Riptide (2-3) tomorrow night at 7 at the Blaisdell Arena.

The winner will be in second place in the four-team Western Division. The top two teams in each of the eight divisions qualify for the playoffs with the first tie-breaker being head-to-head.

"Any game is a must-win in my theory of coaching," Carlson said. "If you don't look at it like that you shouldn't be out here."