KAHUKU — As the new football coach at Kahuku High, Reggie Torres wants to make a difference. But not so much in adding trophies to an already heavily-decorated football program.

"I always believed that the head football coach has a bigger impact on the kids here," said Torres, a 1983 alumnus of Kahuku, where he was a three-year starter at defensive back. "You're talking (about the whole) campus now. We deal with the big-time kids. The kids that the kids at the school look up to. You got the wrestlers, the judo kids, we got the track (athletes). But there is nothing like the football player. I always believed that if we could get (the football players) on track — being better role models and leaders on campus — the campus would be a lot better place to be."

Torres, 41, succeeds Siuaki Livai, the longest-tenured (10 seasons) and winningest coach (102-20, four state titles) at Kahuku. He is one of 12 new football coaches statewide.

Yet, coaching varsity football wasn't even on the radar for the 41-year-old educational assistant in charge of detention and lockouts (students tardy for school) when he started out. He joined Kahuku's athletic department as an assistant coach in wrestling in 1985. He was eventually promoted to varsity wrestling coach, then judo coach and later added girls' wrestling to this list. He also added on junior varsity football coach. When the varsity football job opened 11 years ago when Doug Semones left to join the University of Hawai'i's staff for then coach Fred vonAppen, Torres applied, but the job went to Livai. No one could dispute the choice.

"When I didn't get it, it was a blessing," Torres said. "When I look back 10 years ago and what I am now, it's a big difference. I've learned so much more in these last 10 years that have helped me become a better coach, as far as organization skills, as far as getting everybody on the same page. I just think now I'm ready for it. But it wasn't a lifelong aspiration."

But now that he has the job, Torres feels he can reach out to more students.

"Kahuku's football program, we average 160 to 180 JV and varsity kids a year," he said. "It's not just (about) football. It's about getting the kids to go to class, trying to get these kids to think about the future. That's what I like about it. It gives me an opportunity to work with more kids, to pass on to them what I feel is important in life."

It seems he already has a head-start on his goal of making a difference in a student's life. He was recently name Department of Education Employee of the Year.

"It makes you feel appreciated," Torres said of the award, which came with a monetary bonus that he used to treat his family to dinner.

But recently, he has been tested.

The Red Raiders lost to Punahou, 20-18, on Friday night in his varsity coaching debut. Nothing to really sweat over. He accomplished his goal of getting all his players in a game that has no bearing on Kahuku's league standings, but might affect it eventually when it comes to state tournament seeding.

But that has been the least of his concerns during the school's most trying week. The Kahuku student body is mourning the loss of three fellow students to two separate car accidents last week in Hau'ula. Some players had permission to miss practice earlier in the week. One of them was among those visiting the roadside memorial of the first accident when the second accident occurred, Torres said.

"We had to get them to focus on priorities," Torres said. "This is a good time to look at priorities. Football is not a priority ... I told them if you really want to honor your friends who passed away, be advocates. Go out and speak against speeding, speak against driving under the influence."

It is these kind of lessons that Torres hopes to teach as the new coach at Kahuku.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.