Lee's Saint Louis tenure ends, UH job begins

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

After 32 years at Saint Louis School, Cal Lee moves to the University of Hawai'i. Advertiser library photo

That is why Cal Lee spent the last day of his 32 years at Saint Louis looking to the future.

"It's not like I'm leaving the country," said Lee, who today officially joins the University of Hawai'i football coaching staff as a defensive assistant. "I'll still be around. Saint Louis is a throw away. I'll continue to follow Saint Louis. At the same time, I'm excited about this new challenge in my life."

In moving to UH, Lee, 56, who retired as the Crusaders' head football coach in December 2001, leaves behind his dual role as the school's athletic director and manager of the Saint Louis Alumni Association's clubhouse.

Todd Los Baños will replace Lee as athletic director.

Lee, who is also the head coach of the Hawaiian Islanders of arenafootball2, said he likely will return to that job next season. Revised NCAA rules allow Lee to both coach at UH and in the arena football league.

Still, UH coach June Jones acknowledged that Lee, who earns $40,000 annually from the Islanders, will take a pay cut by leaving Saint Louis.

"I can live with it," Lee said.

Lee said he could have remained at Saint Louis for several more years. "But like anything else," he said, "you know when it's time to move on. This is the best time to move on. I don't know how it's going to be, but it's a new journey. I'll be enjoying it."

Lee was a finalist for the UH head coaching job in 1995 and 1998. A member of the 1998 selection committee said Lee had the second-best interview, behind Jones, who recently received a new five-year contract.

Since 1996, Lee turned down three job offers from UH. Four months ago, Jones recalled, he asked Lee to join as an assistant coach. Jones said he was willing to wait until early August for Lee's response. A backup from the Mainland, Jones said, was in place if Lee didn't take the job.

"I knew what I wanted to do," Lee said. "The answer was there. But I wanted to think about it. I wanted to make sure I was going up there (to Manoa) for the right reasons."

Two weeks ago, Lee formally accepted Jones' offer.

"I'm grateful (Jones) gave me the opportunity and the time to think about it," Lee said. "For a guy to say that, 'Think about it,' really means a lot. Most guys will say, 'You want the job or not?' They don't want to wait too long. It was a tough decision, but (Jones) gave me the time to make the right decision."

Lee said he looks forward to being reunited with brother Ron Lee, who coaches the UH receivers. "We've been working together half of our lives," he said. "Working with him, I can learn a lot. He'll help me further my coaching abilities."

During early talks, it was believed Lee was offered a position with greater authority. There was speculation Lee would be groomed as Jones' successor. But Lee said his primary interest is in working with players.

"I'm very happy being a position coach," said Lee, who will coach the strong-side linebackers. "That's what I like to do."

Then, he admitted, "I never wanted to be a head coach in high school. I was happy being the assistant coach. ... Things just happened."

When he was 26, in 1972, Lee was promoted to head coach at Saint Louis. He was fired after one season. Lee said he was not angered by that dismissal.

"What are you going to get mad at?" he said. "You didn't do a good job? Probably. For bringing someone else in? No. The best thing that happened was I went to Kaiser (High) after that."

For the next several years, Lee taught at Saint Louis and served as Kaiser's defensive coordinator. Ron Lee was the Cougars' head coach.

Cal Lee returned as Saint Louis' head coach in 1982, building a program that eventually won 14 O'ahu Bowl titles and one state championship.

"The wins and losses come with the territory," Lee said, recalling his tenure at Saint Louis. "I'm really proud of the boys, seeing them go to college and having some success. That's something you can't put a monetary value on. It's a personal reward, being a part of their lives. You've got to feel awfully good about that."

Lee said most of what he has learned came from his father, Thomas.

"To me, he's the best coach no one knows," Lee said. "He could have been a hell of a coach. He only coached three guys, but he was beyond his time. He taught me and my brothers about developing character. I'm not saying I'm the perfect guy, but the things he instilled in us are everlasting. He's a legend to us."