Tengan resigns as Saint Louis football coach
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
 |
|
|
"There is no one particular reason why I'm stepping down," said Tengan, 42, who succeeded Cal Lee in March 2002. "It was a tough decision. When I took the job last year, it was just a one-year commitment."
Tengan said he will continue to teach physical education at Saint Louis and will remain as varsity boys basketball coach. He said he will not return as a football assistant either.
"There were a lot of sleepless nights," Tengan said. "It was a lot tougher decision to step down than when I decided to accept the job."
Tengan had been an assistant to Lee for 19 seasons, the last four as defensive coordinator. He also ran the defense this past season, part of his role as head coach. He originally declined the head-coaching offer, but accepted about three weeks later after reconsidering.
"I will miss coaching," Tengan said. "But I'm not totally closing it down."
After losing back-to-back games against eventual national champion De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) and Kamehameha, the Crusaders won their last eight, including a 34-15 victory over Castle in the state championship game. Saint Louis finished the season 11-2.
Tengan said he had contemplated stepping down from football before the 2000 season. But Saint Louis had a streak of 14 consecutive Prep Bowl/state championships snapped by Kahuku. He did not want to leave the sport under those circumstances.
"I had thoughts about not coming back three years ago," he said. "But the loss (to Kahuku) left a bad taste in my mouth.
"If we didn't win (this past championship), it would have made it a lot tougher to step away from."
Tengan does not know who will succeed him.
