After living in Japan for the better part of 17 years, former University of Hawai'i football player David Stant is coming home.

The 1981 graduate of Kahuku High, who played for UH from 1987 to 1989, was named varsity football coach at Kamehameha Schools yesterday. He succeeds Kanani Souza, who coached from 1996 to 2004 and 2006. Souza planned to step down upon being named the school's athletic director earlier last year.

Stant could not be reached yesterday, as he is still in Japan concluding business with IBM-Japan, his wife, Laurie said. Stant was the head coach and general manager of the company's team the past four seasons.

"It was time to move home," Laurie said. "Our oldest is now 14."

Upon ending his career at UH, Stant was originally recruited to play for Recruit in the corporate league. But the league later decided not to allow foreigners to play. Instead, Recruit hired Stant to be defensive coordinator in 1990. He also took over as offensive coordinator the next season and was promoted to head coach the next season and stayed through 1999.

He became a consultant for the team the next three seasons, allowing him to split time here and in Japan. But he still longed to coach, Laurie said. IBM hired him and the family moved back to Japan.

According to a Kamehameha press release, Stant coached four division, three league and three national titlists.

"David brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and proven track record as a head football coach to the Kamehameha Schools program," Souza said in a press release.

The Stants have four children, all of whom attended Japanese public schools. All are fluid in the Japanese language, Laurie said.

Kamehameha was 8-3 last season, taking second in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.