John Chung, the dean of O'ahu high school boys basketball coaches, has stepped down from that position at Roosevelt after 22 seasons at the helm.

Chung is serving as Roosevelt's interim athletic director following the retirement of Rodney Iwasaki last summer and is planning to apply for the job permanently as soon as it officially is posted by the Department of Education.

DOE rules prohibit athletic directors from also serving as coaches, but Chung said he does not plan to coach this season even if he does not get the job as permanent AD.

According to other coaches, that will leave a void in the OIA.

"(Roosevelt's) got shoes to fill," said Castle coach Rocky Fraticelli, who now becomes the dean of league coaches entering his 19th season at the Knights' helm. "He's a nice guy, fair and sincere. I enjoyed coaching against John through the years, it's always been a nice challenge. His teams were always prepared and he got the best out of his players."

Kalaheo coach Chico Furtado, who has faced Chung as a head coach or assistant since 1991, said, "John's a good man, he ran that program the right way.

"His kids always played hard, and we had some great battles. But win or lose, he was always a good guy."

Chung guided the Rough Riders to their first and only O'ahu Interscholastic Association championship in 2000, and Roosevelt was a perennial playoff contender throughout the 1990s.

Iwasaki has said that with Chung, "everything is for the kids," and he has pushed for Chung's candidacy as his successor.

"He's the right man for the job," Iwasaki said.

Chung is now accepting applications for Roosevelt's boys basketball head coaching position. Applicants may send a resume to: John Chung, c/o Roosevelt High School, 1120 Nehoa St., Honolulu, HI 96822, or call Chung for more information at 587-4600, ext. 326.

KALAHEO SEEKING GIRLS HEAD COACH

Kalaheo is searching for a new girls basketball head coach, as Ryan Hogue has left that position after one season to become athletic director at Academy of the Pacific.

Mustangs athletic director Lew Fuddy said applicants should have at least two years of head coaching experience and should send him a resume at Kalaheo High School, 730 Iliana St., Kailua, HI 96734, or fax it to 254-7907. The deadline is Sept. 21.

For more questions, call Fuddy at 254-7914.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.