Posted on: Wednesday, June 4, 2003

Saint Louis coaching search far from over

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Saint Louis School, home of the state's most revered football program, has been without a head coach since April 22 — when Delbert Tengan resigned after one season — and it likely won't announce a successor for at least another 10 days.

Athletic director Cal Lee, who coached the Crusaders to 16 mythical or official state championships from 1982-99, said last night that a new coach cannot be announced until school president Father Allen DeLong returns from a trip and approves the choice. DeLong is not expected to return before June 14.

Rebecca Fernandes, Saint Louis' marketing and public relations director, said the school received "more than a dozen" applications for the football job and the interview process is just about done. She said a search committee — including Lee and representatives from the student body, parents, alumni and administration — has been sorting through the applications.

The committee is not revealing names of the applicants, but the few names that have surfaced as possible candidates through Advertiser phone calls were not prominent.

None of the applicants is believed to be from the Mainland.

Several coaches who have built solid programs in the OIA are not candidates for the job.

Doug Semones, who guided Kahuku to four OIA titles in seven years (1989-95), confirmed yesterday that he did not apply.

"I'm happy with what I'm doing now: coaching my son's Pop Warner team in the fall and the (Hawaiian) Islanders (as an assistant) in the spring and summer," Semones said.

Mililani coach James Millwood, who is 51-35-4 in nine seasons, had a similar answer.

"I'm happy where I'm at," Millwood said. "(The Saint Louis job) wasn't in my thoughts."

Castle's Nelson Maeda also is not a candidate, and neither is former McKinley coach David Tanuvasa, who is planning a move to Maui. Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez, another Hawaiian Islanders assistant, said he is not interested in the Saint Louis job.

Kealakehe coach Sam Papali'i, a Saint Louis graduate and former NCAA Division I college assistant, said he is content living in Kona and did not apply.

"But if I was back on O'ahu, I probably would jump at it," Papali'i said. "I would love to coach at Saint Louis, mainly because that's my alma mater. And if I did, I wouldn't change much. I think what makes a program so good is the continuity. That's why I think they should go for a Saint Louis guy."

Crusaders offensive coordinator Vince Passas said he did not apply for the position. And Lee has denied any intention of returning as head coach.

Fernandes denied rumors that the school administration will not fully support a new coaching staff.

"The school wants to support all of its programs, including football," she said.