NOTES
Ex-CFL player named Kailua football coach
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
A former Canadian Football League player who has been out of coaching for 20 years is the new head football coach for Kailua High School, athletic director Mel Imai announced yesterday.
Gary Rosolowich, 48, was chosen Saturday after a five-member panel interviewed eight candidates, Imai said. Rosolowich succeeds Darren Johnson, who resigned April 27 after being cleared by the school of allegations from assistant coaches.
Johnson compiled a 58-29-1 record in eight seasons at Kailua and guided the Surfriders to O'ahu Interscholastic Association championship games the past three years.
Saturday's selection panel included Imai, Kailua principal Francine Honda, another OIA athletic director and one community member each from Kailua and Waimanalo.
Imai said the list of candidates interviewed Saturday included members of Johnson's staff, plus other local applicants. He said Kailua received two applications from the Mainland, but the committee "wanted face-to-face" interviews.
The Advertiser learned two weeks ago that former University of Hawai'i standout and Kalaheo offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann had applied for the Kailua job, as did former UH quarterback and Kapolei assistant John Hao. But Stutzmann and Hao withdrew their names from the list May 13 after Delbert Tengan was named head coach at Saint Louis — where both players are alumni — and elected to join Tengan's staff instead.
Rosolowich hails from Winnepeg, Canada, and was an All-America defensive back at Boise State in 1976, when the Broncos were an NCAA Division I-AA program. He went on to play four years for the Winnepeg Blue Bombers in the CFL, then coached for three years in the Canadian Junior Football League — a feeder system of 17- to 21-year-olds for the CFL.
Rosolowich moved to Hawai'i in 1986 and has lived in Kailua since 1990, where he is an independent businessman. He acknowledges a long absence from coaching and says he has "watched a number of high school games," but has "not followed (Hawai'i prep football) intensely."
Rosolowich said he plans to approach some of Johnson's assistants about joining his staff.
"I just felt the time has come for me to do this, that it's the right thing to do to see if this can come together," Rosolovich said. "I have the time available now, and the last couple of years I've been wanting to give back to the game and to the community. I think this is the prime way to do that."
Imai said other factors outweighed Rosolovich's lack of high school coaching experience.
"His managerial skills and organizational skills — that was his strength," Imai said. "He seemed knowledgeable and is willing to work with the community, not just the football team or the school. Those are the kinds of things we were looking for at this time."
Rosolowich said he is confident he can continue the Surfriders' winning ways.
"Having played at a high level, I feel I am up to the challenge," Rosolovich said. "Kailua has been a very, very good team the past few years, and I know they won the OIA co-championship in 2001. But I think there are still some goals out there that anybody can embrace, and hopefully we can be as successful as before, if not more."
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
SOCCER
Pearl City coach sought: Pearl City High School is taking applications for varsity boys head coach. Those interested should send their résumés to the Pearl City Athletic Department, 2100 Hookiekie St., Pearl City, HI 96782 by Friday. No phone calls.
