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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Wednesday, August 30, 2006

New Kahuku High School coach
Reggie Torres


Reggie Torres, 41, became the 15th coach in Kahuku varsity football history (since 1940) earlier this year. He is a 1983 graduate of Kahuku, playing for then coach Clarence Lavarias. He is an educational assistant in charge of in-school suspensions and lockouts (students who are tardy). Torres inherits a program that has dominated recently by winning four of seven state championships. He already made his mark as wrestling coach, guiding Kahuku boys to two state crowns and the girls to three. But now he follows Siuaki Livai, the longest tenured of the 14 previous coaches and the winningest (102-20 in 10 seasons) with seven OIA crowns and the four state titles.


What does it mean to be football coach at what is now the most successful high school football program in the state?


"For me, I've been coaching for years. It's not just a coaching job. What I like about it is I get to work with a lot of kids. Through football, we can reach a lot more kids.

"Kahuku's football program, we average 160 to 180 JV and varsity kids a year. 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. My coaches feel the same way as me. My coaching staff is big asset. I have coaches that are great with kids. They're there for the kids. We're all on the same page as to what we're trying to accomplish here, not just winning on the field, but off.

"For me, that's what it's all about. I'm from Kahuku. I'm a Red Raider, my coaches are Red Raiders. What we take pride in is this is our future. Ten years from now, they're (the players) going to be coming back to this community. We want them to come back as better citizens and people who can help make an impact in our community and help the younger generation to continue on with the same tradition that we are trying to promote."


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