Thirty-seven years after receiving his high school diploma, Rodney Iwasaki said he has finally "graduated" from Roosevelt.

Iwasaki, 55, stepped down as the Rough Riders' athletic director earlier this month to take a Department of Education position in its Safety Management division. Iwasaki graduated from Roosevelt in 1970, started coaching football there in 1971 and had been the school's athletic director since 1989.

"I told my wife, 'I just graduated, I finally get to take home my diploma,' " Iwasaki said. "I graduated from Roosevelt in 1970, but I really didn't leave until now."

Iwasaki said as he is approaching retirement age, he had been looking for "something (different) to explore, a challenge."

"This is challenging," Iwasaki said of his new job, which involves oversight of safety and security issues for public schools across the state. "Now is a good time (to leave Roosevelt), we'll have the new (football/soccer) field and track in soon. The new facilities will strengthen the program."

Longtime boys basketball coach John Chung will serve as interim athletic director until the job is filled permanently. Chung said he will apply for the position.

But Iwasaki's departure impacts the entire O'ahu Interscholastic Association, since he was one of its longest tenured ADs and considered to be one of the group's leaders. He also had been director of the softball state tournament for over 15 years and served as the state swimming coordinator for the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association.

Iwasaki also was active in the OIA's Drug and Alcohol Prevention program and helped coordinate extramural programs for middle schools.

"Besides being AD, he did so many other things behind the scenes," Chung said. "I used to tell him, 'How many hats can you wear?' But you have to think about why they ask him to do all those things — it's because he's a worker and he does such a good job."

Iwasaki also sat on the HHSAA's executive board representing the Hawai'i Interscholastic Athletic Directors Association.

But more than anything, Iwasaki will be associated with Roosevelt, having worn the Rough Riders' red and yellow almost every day for the past 36 years.

"He's done a lot for the school, not looking for credit," Chung said. "He always told us, 'Kids first, athletics second.' "

Iwasaki said he's confident about Roosevelt's athletic future.

"But I'll miss everybody at the school," he said. "Especially all the athletes and coaches."

RODRIGUES SPEAKS

In other news, All-State girls basketball player Iwalani Rodrigues confirmed yesterday that she has transferred from Roosevelt to Kalani for "school reasons."

"It has nothing to do with basketball," Rodrigues said. "Coach Bobby (Keanini) is a great coach."

Read his blog on prep sports at http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.