The 2006 Kaua'i High School football team and its head coach, Keli'i Morgado, were presented with a certificate of recognition by the Kaua'i County Council yesterday in a formal celebration of the Red Raiders' Division II state runner-up finish.

It was a rare and brief happy moment for the Kaua'i football program, which hasn't had many of them in the past month.

Morgado, who guided the Red Raiders from the bottom of the Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation to four straight league championships in his eight years at the helm, was told on March 16 that he would not be the coach in 2007.

Along with every other coach in the Red Raiders' athletic department, Morgado was told in late January that he needed to re-apply and interview for his position. He did, and was conditionally offered the job on March 15, pending agreement on seven stipulations.

Morgado said he expressed concerns about some of the conditions being "unrealistic" and unreasonable, and originally was given two weeks to agree to them. Less than 24 hours later, the offer was rescinded.

JV coach Derek Borrero was promoted to replace Morgado on March 21, but the episode has left many in the Kaua'i community upset about the turmoil.

A "town hall" type meeting is scheduled for 7:30 tonight at Lihu'e Neighborhood Center, with players, parents, coaches and community members expected to attend. Booster club president Duane Girard sent letters inviting Kaua'i principal Linda Smith, athletic director Ross Shimabukuro, Department of Education superintendent Pat Hamamoto and Kaua'i District superintendent Daniel Hamada, but he said all of them declined the invitation.

Hamamoto told The Advertiser yesterday that she would be on Kaua'i this morning attending to another matter, but she also planned to discuss the Red Raiders' situation further with Smith and Hamada.

"I know there are issues (at Kaua'i High), and that there is a personnel issue," Hamamoto said. "When it's a personnel issue, it's difficult to have discussion (because of privacy laws). I have referred this to Mr. Hamada, but I will talk to him about it again."

Shimabukuro told The Advertiser he "shouldn't comment" on personnel matters like Morgado's, but acknowledged it was Smith's request to have all athletic department coaches re-apply for their positions.

Shimabukuro took over in January for longtime athletic director Charlene Quinones, who retired on Dec. 31. He said the reason for having all coaches re-apply was to establish expectations with the change in department leadership.

"The rationale was that with me being a new AD, this gives me a chance to get to know everyone and it gives everyone a chance to understand the process," said Shimabukuro, who had been a longtime PE teacher at the school.

Attempts by The Advertiser to reach Smith were unsuccessful. She was on O'ahu on Tuesday.

Shimabukuro said the volleyball, cross country and air riflery coaches have been re-hired, and the bowling coaches are retiring.

"We haven't had any problem (other than with football)," Shimabukuro said. "As long as the coaches follow the guidelines, there will not be any problem."

But Morgado, Girard and others say there have been big problems with the football situation.

Girard said all 90 players in the varsity and JV programs signed a petition in February saying they wanted Morgado to remain as head coach. Morgado said 10 players came to his house on Tuesday, contemplating whether to come back.

"They said half the team is frustrated, confused, deciding whether they want to play next year," Morgado said. "My first year (as head coach), we had 18 players on the varsity and 21 on the JV. It took us four years to turn this thing around."

Girard said the program has already suffered because the players have lost three or four weeks of conditioning plus one fund-raising opportunity.

"We just want (administrators) to hear what we have to say," Girard said. "These are our kids, our future. As parents, we don't think this was handled professionally, and we want (administrators) to be fair to people."

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.