Punahou’s co-athletic
directors retire

Bennett and McLachlin
have a combined 60 years experience
with the Buffanblu program

By Dave Reardon
Special to the Star-Bulletin

Punahou School co-athletic directors Doug Bennett and Chris McLachlin are retiring from their posts, effective Aug. 31 of next year.

Bennett, 54, and McLachlin, 51, who have a combined 60 years experience with the Buffanblu, made the announcement this morning in a news release.

Bennett is taking advantage of an early retirement option offered to long-time Punahou employees that ends next year. McLachlin will continue at Punahou as a teacher.

"We came in (as co-athletic directors) together as partners and it seems appropriate to go out as partners," McLachlin said. "This gives the school a chance to get some fresh new blood in there."

Bennett and McLachlin are responsible for one of the largest and most successful high school athletic programs in the state, with about 110 teams, more than 200 coaches and approximately 1,500 student-athletes.

Punahou remained a power in many sports, including volleyball, basketball, track and field, tennis, soccer, cross country and water polo, under Bennett and McLachlin. They replaced Ralph Martinson, who retired in 1990.

A new athletic director has not been chosen.

"The job is being reconfigured," McLachlin said. "The application and interview process will probably cover several months."

Bennett coached varsity football and baseball at various times during his 32 years at Punahou. He also taught elementary school, and history and economics at the high school level.

Bennett counts Glenn Goya's perfect-game victory in the state baseball championship in 1972 and the Interscholastic League of Honolulu football championship in 1977 as his biggest coaching thrills.

"I enjoyed the variety of challenges at Punahou," he said. "It's a place where you're allowed to grow. I spent my whole adult life at Punahou, but it never got boring."

Bennett plans to spend his retirement traveling with his wife, Elaine, who recently retired after 25 years with the Department of Education.

McLachlin welcomes the chance to "decompress." He said he looks forward to returning to the classroom, but will miss working with other athletic directors.

"I have huge respect and regard for my colleagues," he said.

McLachlin coached boys basketball teams to state championships in 1975, 1979 and 1990, and led the boys volleyball team to 12 championships, including nine in a row (1981-1989).