Lino still candidate for job at Saint Louis

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Tim Lino still is a candidate to become Saint Louis School's next football coach, as negotiations continued yesterday to adjust the school's offer.

Lino, best known as Waiakea's head coach from 1992-96, was offered the job Tuesday but was not expected to accept because there was no full-time position available on Saint Louis' faculty or staff that would justify leaving his current job as principal of Ke Kula 'O 'Ehunuikaimalino — a Hawaiian immersion school in Kealakekua, Kona.

Yesterday afternoon, Lino said "right now, it's not done yet," declining further comment on his decision. Saint Louis School president Father Allen DeLong and athletic director Cal Lee could not be reached for comment, but the school's marketing/public relations director Rebecca Fernandes said, "negotiations are still in progress" regarding the school's offer.

Saint Louis' athletic department will soon have an opening on its staff, but the salary for that position is believed to be nowhere near what a school principal or administrator would make. Currently, there are no known openings on the faculty or staff that would offer something similar to Lino's current salary.

The football job has been vacant since April 22, when Delbert Tengan resigned after one season. Spring drills, scheduled for five days in May, were canceled because of a lack of a head coach.

Practice for the summer pass league is scheduled to begin July 1, and Lee said Tuesday night that Saint Louis plans to have a team entered.

In a statement issued Tuesday afternoon, DeLong said:

"I have been very eager to hire a new football coach as the start of the season is near. We already had to miss spring practice, and it's important to us to continue the quality of our athletic program, so we hope to get started soon."

Saint Louis has won 17 of the past 20 mythical or official state championships.