PAUL HONDA / PHONDA@STARBULLETIN.COM First-year Mules coach Nolan Tokuda led Leilehua to an 11-2 record this season. Before being promoted to varsity, his J.V. teams went 17-4 over two years.

Tokuda on top

In a season of remarkable works, one coach stood slightly higher than the rest.

Coaches and media voted Leilehua's Nolan Tokuda as the Star-Bulletin Football Coach of the Year in relatively close balloting.

Tokuda, the first-year varsity head coach, guided the Mules to an 11-2 season. It was a surprise to the rest of the state, but not to Tokuda, who had guided the junior varsity program to a 17-4 record in two seasons before being promoted to the varsity.

"They found a way to win the close games," Castle coach Nelson Maeda said.

The Aiea graduate has a no-nonsense approach on the field, but is a stickler for delegation when it comes to planning. Like Tokuda, three of his assistants are former quarterbacks. Their ability to work together gave birth to a hybrid offense with schemes and terminology borrowed from the San Francisco 49ers, Florida State, Hawaii and the old Leilehua playbook.

Leilehua reached the state championship game, knocking off then No. 1-ranked Kahuku along the way.

"We had a good mix of being serious, working hard and taking time away just to talk story," said Tokuda, 32. "Being able to run around, play on the field with the kids is a brotherly kind of feeling."

Tokuda, a counselor at Leilehua, credited his staff and players. The Mules, he said, were confident about their potential long ago. "When they were freshmen, they felt like they could win the state championship one day," he said. "We had ups and downs. It's kind of neat to see them work it out, kinda like 'Remember the Titans.' "

Kamehameha coach Kanani Souza, who guided the Warriors to the Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship and state crown, finished second in the voting. The Warriors were deep with experience and talent, but injuries and other obstacles took a toll on their starters. Still, Kamehameha marched ahead without a hitch, knocking Saint Louis off the ILH throne for the first time in 19 seasons.

Lahainaluna's longtime coach, Bobby Watson, placed third in the voting.

The Lunas made a big turnaround under the strict supervision of Watson and his staff, winning the Maui Interscholastic League title. The Lunas, who nearly went to Division II after last year, reached the semifinals of the state championships after upsetting then-No. 2-ranked Mililani in the opening round.

Hawaii Prep coach Tom Goodspeed finished fourth in the balloting. His team, with a number of two-way starters, went 10-0 in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation despite injuries and illnesses. Ka Makani then knocked out Waipahu in the opening round of the Division II state tournament, and led Iolani in the second half before succumbing in the semifinals.

Campbell's Tumoana Kenessey and Iolani's Wendell Look also received votes.