This one was on simmer for a long time and now it's boiling over.

We'd heard all kinds of sporadic rumors for months about major alterations at the Saint Louis School athletic department (and we're not talking about replacing the Gerber Field House and the locker room). If you follow local prep sports closely, you may have heard them, too.

Now, it's more than just idle chatter or wishful thinking for those who want change. In the past two days, multiple sources have told Star-Bulletin reporters that Crusaders athletic director Ulima Afoa has been asked to resign, (and he is refusing) and varsity football coach John Hao is likely right behind him.

It's way past the speculation stage in both cases, although the process is more advanced on Afoa than Hao.

“;Your source is correct that his resignation has been asked for,”; said another insider, referencing Afoa, a Saint Louis grad and former University of Hawaii assistant.

The same very well-placed person told me he thinks there's a slight chance that Hao, a former Crusaders all-state quarterback, could be retained by a new athletic director, “;but there's a lot of talk that he's out.”;

Another insider says the school president “;wants (Hao) out.”;

We may know more about that today when Hao returns to Hawaii from vacation.

Reasons for change? On Afoa's two-year watch, there's been a general decline of wins and championships in most sports. The Saint Louis track and field team won the state title last spring, but that's one of the few additions to the trophy case. Wrestling and basketball, two long-time cornerstones of success, have hit hard times.

As for Hao, he may be a victim of unrealistic standards and perhaps he deserves another season. But few close to the situation think he's going to get that courtesy.

For most other high school football programs, a 15-6 record for a coach's first two years is excellent.

But we're talking about Saint Louis, which dominated Hawaii prep football in the 1980s and 1990s under Cal Lee. That made the on-field standard incredibly high — and it remains so nearly a decade after the greatest high school coach in the state's history left for arena football and then the UH staff.

“;That's a blessing and a curse,”; one insider says. “;The bar has been raised. Look at Delbert (Tengan, Lee's replacement). The poor guy loses two games in two years and gets pushed out.”;

If Hao is indeed being dumped, it seems a little hasty after just two years on the job. But a 4-4 record in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu doesn't sit well with boosters and other alumni impatient for a return to the success of the previous century.

It makes you think why anyone would want either job. Have we gotten to the point where high school coaches and administrators are hired to be fired, like those in college and the pros?

Whoever comes in is burdened immediately with the same challenges as the predecessors.

So many dynamics have changed from when Saint Louis ruled. Every year now, there is actual competition, at least a handful of legitimate aspirants for the Division I state football championship. The talent is dispersed now. Saint Louis will continue to compete and contend, but no one is going to win 17 ILH titles in two decades like the Crusaders did during the Lee years.

High standards are fine. But unrealistic ones are another matter.

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Reach Star-Bulletin sports columnist Dave Reardon at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), his “;Quick Reads”; blog at starbulletin.com, and twitter.com/davereardon.