Pavich will move to Iowa this summer
Mike Pavich, a well-known local sports figure since his playing days at Kamehameha 40 years ago, is leaving the islands this summer.
Pavich has made his latest mark as head coach of the defending state champion Punahou boys track and field team, a team he will continue to lead through the end of this season.
Pavich, 58, is moving to Iowa, where he has recently spent his summers.
"This is it," said Pavich, whose wife, Tammy, is from Iowa. He said he will likely teach and coach at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
In addition to track, he coached football for decades at Punahou after a stellar prep career at Kamehameha and playing football at UCLA.
Pavich guided Punahou to its 29th boys state track and field championship last season.
This is his third year as head coach, but he was previously an assistant since 1982 at Punahou and before that at Kamehameha specializing in the throwing events.
He was also the Punahou head football coach from 1981 to 1985. He is also a math teacher at the Makiki private school.
Pavich is taking his track team to two meets in California later this month -- March 22 at Huntington Beach High School and the Mustang Relays on March 29 at Mira Costa.
"We've been fundraising like heck, so I've gotten to know the kids' families, and they're great. I'll miss them," Pavich said.
He said he'll also miss his assistant coaches.
"We've got nine outstanding assistants, so I just have to sit back and be general manager," Pavich said.
He plans to return to the islands often.
"The smartest thing I did was work 15 years at American Airlines and get that lifetime travel card," Pavich said.
Zach Coronas is back to lead the Buffanblu this spring. He won the 200 and 400 meters and anchored the winning 4x400 at the state meet last year.
The Punahou girls go after their fifth consecutive state title under coach Duncan Macdonald this year. They have won 30 state championships overall.