Botelho said he would resign as head football coach of Pac-Five, the conglomeration of small private schools. He has been a high school football coach on O'ahu for 38 years, the past 29 years for Pac-Five.

He retired last year after 28 years as athletic director at Mid-Pacific Institute, but remained as Pac-Five football coach.

Botelho, 71, replaces Clay Benham, who died last April. Benham had been the ILH executive secretary since it was separated from the public schools of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association in 1970.

The ILH sponsors 21 sports, most of them with leagues in both genders and schedules in intermediate through varsity levels.

His appointment was announced this morning by Kamehameha Schools principal Tony Ramos, president of the ILH, after the league's principals endorsed the recommendation of a search committee headed by Punahou Academy principal Kevin Conway.

"Don was far and away the best candidate for this job," Conway said. "He's knowledgeable, realistic and forward thinking."

Botelho was one of four persons who had served as interim executive of the league since Benham's death. The other three were athletic directors Jim Bukes of University, Blane Gaison of Kamehameha and John Hom of Pac-Five.

Botelho has been a familiar figure in O'ahu sports since his multiple-sport playing days at Roosevelt High School from 1946-50. After a military stint during the Korean Conflict, he played football at University of Hawai 'i from 1954-57.

He began his high school football coaching career at Damien in 1965.

Botelho was inducted into the University of Hawai'i Circle of Honor (athletics hall of fame) in 2000 and has won numerous state and national awards for high administrative services.

His appointment was endorsed yesterday by the ILH principals in executive session at their regular monthly meeting at the Kamehameha Schools.