Delbert Tengan, a fixture in the Saint Louis School athletic department for 25 years, abruptly resigned as head coach for the Crusaders' football and basketball programs yesterday.

Tengan guided Saint Louis' nationally renowned football program to a 48-11 record in five seasons as head coach, including one state championship and three Interscholastic league of Ho-nolulu titles, and his basketball Crusaders were perennial ILH and state contenders in his 10 seasons at the helm.

"The decision not to return as a head coach was an extremely difficult process for me," Tengan said through a school press release issued yesterday afternoon.

Contacted by The Advertiser, Tengan declined to elaborate on what factors prompted his resignation, except to say he "did have the option to remain" as head coach in both sports.

"Like any other big decision, there were a whole bunch of factors to consider, and it was a decision I needed to make," said Tengan, who will remain on the faculty as a P.E. teacher. "I just see it as the ending of one chapter in my life span, and we'll see what new chapter there is after this."

The press release included a statement saying "Saint Louis appreciates the years of service Tengan has given to the athletic department in the roles of assistant and head coaching positions."

"We appreciate all the positive contributions Coach Tengan has made to the hundreds of young men who have grown through their athletic experience here at Saint Louis," said school president Walter Kirimitsu.

Tengan began with the Crusaders' athletic department as a trainer in the early 1980s, then joined the football program as an assistant coach in 1986. He eventually became defensive coordinator, then took over for legendary head coach Cal Lee in 2002.

Lee, now the defensive coordinator at the University of Hawai'i, guided Saint Louis to 15 Prep Bowl or state championships. Tengan then led the Crusaders to ILH and state championships in his first season as head coach.

"To me, he's done a great job," Lee said yesterday. "I'm saddened to hear he's stepping down. He's so positive and he contributed so much to the school. He was great with the kids, and I've held him in high regard all these years."

With Saint Louis' football season often running into December, Tengan went straight from the gridiron to the hardwood as the Crusaders' basketball coach. But he found success there, too, guiding Saint Louis to the state championship games in 2000 and 2003.

"His teams were always tough and they played very physical, hard-nosed defense," said longtime 'Iolani coach Mark Mugiishi. "You could always expect a tough, hard-fought but clean game from Saint Louis. And coaching both sports — that's really hard to do. We'll miss him, because he's one of the statesmen of the ILH."

Ulima Afoa, who was named Saint Louis' athletic director Tuesday, declined comment about possible successors. Afoa was a longtime college football assistant and Kamehameha-Hawai'i's head coach the past four seasons.

"The first thing we want to do is thank Delbert for all he did," Afoa said. "We'll be trying to find a replacement soon."

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