Longtime college and high school football coach Ulima Afoa has accepted the position of athletic director at his alma mater, Saint Louis School.

Saint Louis had been expected to announce the hiring today, although no official word came from the school as of early tonight. But Afoa — the head football coach and athletics and fitness coordinator at Kamehameha Schools-Hawai'i the past four years — confirmed to The Advertiser this afternoon that he has accepted the offer, which he had been contemplating for over a week.

Former Saint Louis athletic director Todd Los Banos announced in late February that he would step down to return as an executive at The Children's House school, a job he started on June 16.

"I made up my mind over the weekend, and it wasn't an easy decision," said Afoa, a 1977 graduate of Saint Louis and former standout offensive lineman for the Crusaders and San Diego State University. "But the main draw was this is an opportunity to not just be an athletic director, but to be an AD at my alma mater. It's the possibility of helping a successful program, it's a great opportunity at a prestigious school.

"We'll have some challenges, but it's a natural draw with me being alumni of the school. That's ultimately what it was — I have a special place in my heart for Saint Louis, and I think that's ingrained in us."

Afoa had been head football coach at Kamehameha-Hawai'i since its first varsity season in 2004, compiling a five-year record of 34-15, including Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division II championships in 2005 and 2006.

The Warriors had a winning record in each of Afoa's four seasons, including a 6-4 inaugural year with no seniors on the roster.