Wednesday, December 12, 2001
The St. Louis School administration is in no rush to name its new head football coach. Cal Lee to choose successor
By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comSt. Louis president Father Allen DeLong said the school will follow the procedures laid out in the faculty handbook to select a replacement for Cal Lee and doesn't anticipate having a new coach in place before the new year.
"We have some timetables and it's just a matter of moving into it leisurely," DeLong said. "I wanted Cal to get a little distance so he could kind of relax from the season. But I know he's been thinking about it."
Lee, who posted a record of 241-32-5 at St. Louis, announced last summer that he would step down as coach following the season. Lee remains the school's athletic director. The Crusaders closed the season with a 21-14 loss to Kahuku in the state championship game on Nov. 30.
DeLong said he hasn't talked to Lee since the championship game and they may not meet until after Christmas. Lee is currently off-island and DeLong will be out of town next week.
DeLong said applications for the position will be submitted to Lee, who will forward them to principal Burton Tomita. He said as athletic director, Lee will have the job of picking his replacement. The new coach's name will then go before the administration for advice and consent. The school must also perform a background check on the appointee.
"That's the normal procedure for choosing a new coach," DeLong said. "We really haven't gotten together to see if we'll make any exceptions to this."
St. Louis defensive coordinator Delbert Tengan said Lee asked him to consider applying for the job, but he hasn't decided whether to pursue it.
"He just asked me to consider it and we would talk further when he gets back," Tengan said.
Tengan has worked with Lee for 19 years and is currently the school's varsity basketball coach.
"Right now it's an option I'm considering," Tengan said. "We haven't talked in detail about it. He said he didn't want it to take away from basketball too much, so he didn't press it. We haven't really set a timetable yet."
Cougars seeking coach: St. Louis isn't the only school looking for a new football coach.
The Kaiser athletic department is accepting applications from those interested in becoming the school's next varsity football coach.
Tony Gayer stepped down as coach after seven seasons at Kaiser.
Applicants should call Kaiser athletic director Bill von Arnswaldt at 394-1231 for more information.
Leilehua announced earlier this week that Jake Kawamata will take over its football program next season. Kawamata replaces Cass Ishitani, who stepped down after the Mules' season finale.
Big Island Candies tourney tips off: Another weekend, another big preseason basketball tournament.
The Big Island Candies Invitational opens tomorrow with four games at Hilo's Afook-Chinen Auditorium.
The tournament features the past two state champions, Kalaheo (2001) and Hilo (2000), along with 2001 state tournament qualifiers St. Louis, Waiakea and Baldwin. St. Joseph's, Kauai and Pearl City round out the field.
Kalaheo opens against Baldwin at 4 p.m. The Mustangs won their own tournament two weeks ago, then beat Iolani in the championship game of Radford's James Alegre Invitational last Saturday.
The first-round schedule also features host Hilo taking on Kauai at 8:30 p.m. St. Louis faces St. Joseph's at 5:30 p.m. and Pearl City takes on Waiakea at 7.
The semifinals are scheduled for 7 and 8:30 p.m. Friday. A slam-dunk contest will be held between games.
The championship game is set for 6 p.m. Saturday.