[ HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS ]
After a 36-hour whirlwind of meetings, Damien Memorial High School has not one, but two new head football coaches. Damien promotes duo
after Bisho resignsBy Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comRudy Alejo and Dean Nakagawa were named co-head coaches of the Monarchs varsity football team yesterday in the wake of Chris Bisho's resignation Thursday.
Bisho submitted his resignation to Damien president Br. Greg O'Donnell two days ago and announced his departure to his players that afternoon.
He said philosophical differences with the school's administration led him to step down.
"We're not made for each other," Bisho said. "I'm going to miss the boys, I never wanted to leave them. They've worked really hard."
Bisho taught world history and coached at Damien for two years. The Monarchs went 2-16 under Bisho and finished 0-7 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu last season with a roster that included eight seniors and 24 sophomores.
Alejo and Nakagawa were assistants under Bisho the past two seasons. Nakagawa was the associate head coach and defensive coordinator while Alejo coached defensive backs.
"I just wanted to keep as much intact as possible," Damien athletic director Herb Lloyd said. "We want to make it as easy as possible and build on what Chris started."
Bisho said of his successors: "I'm happy about it. I'm glad they stayed with it so the kids don't get lost."
Lloyd said the head coaching arrangement is a one-year deal and will be reassessed after the season.
Alejo has taught English at Damien for 29 years and served as an assistant under Al Torco, Wally Aina and Bisho. Nakagawa, a teacher at Kalakaua Middle School, was a defensive back at the University of Hawaii in 1990-91 and joined the Damien staff when Bisho took over two years ago.
"There's always that challenge, where a new coach would want to bring the program to another level," Alejo said. "With the groundwork Chris has laid, we have a good foundation to work with."
Alejo said he anticipates most of the coaching staff will remain with the program.
"It sounds like they're willing to come back," he said. "They have a good relationship with the kids and want to see this through."
The Monarchs recently completed their spring drills and are preparing for the ILH summer pass league season.
"It's a smooth transition," O'Donnell said. "It gives us what we were looking for as far as having a campus presence and they're both teachers.
"We'll miss Chris because he's a quality man. But as far as football is concerned it's as smooth as you can hope for."
Bisho said he plans to continue teaching and coaching at another school in the ILH.
The Damien program entered the spotlight last summer when O'Donnell announced the school would forfeit its games with St. Louis. After the ILH altered its format, the Monarchs did face St. Louis and lost 69-0.
Hawaii School Web Sites