[ HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ]

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Tengan
to take over
at St. Louis

He is expected to coach both
the football and basketball teams

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By Jason Kaneshiro and Dave Reardon
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.com | dreardon@starbulletin.com

After first declining the post, Delbert Tengan will take over as head football coach at St. Louis School, according to a memo distributed to the school's faculty yesterday.

The memo confirmed that Tengan, a long-time assistant coach for the Crusaders, will succeed Cal Lee as head coach of the state's most successful high school football program over the last two decades.

The school is expected to make an official announcement today or tomorrow.

This marks a dramatic reversal over the past two weeks. Tengan stated that he would not pursue the head coaching job on Feb. 28. Tengan and Lee declined to comment last night.

Tengan will take over a St. Louis football program that captured the last 16 Interscholastic League of Honolulu championships and won 15 Prep Bowl or state championships. The Crusaders lost to Kahuku in the state championship game the last two years.

Tengan's appointment caps a 19-year climb up the program's coaching ranks. He joined the St. Louis football program as a trainer in 1983 and started coaching the team's defensive backs in 1987. He was later promoted to defensive coordinator.

Tengan will remain a physical education teacher at St. Louis and is expected to remain the head coach of the Crusaders' Division I varsity basketball team.

In addition to playing its ILH schedule this fall, St. Louis will face last year's national No. 1, De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), on Sept. 21 at Aloha Stadium.

Lee said last summer that the 2001 season would be his last as head coach. The Crusaders posted a record of 241-32-5 in 21 seasons under Lee.

Lee has been offered positions on the University of Hawaii coaching staff in the past and expressed an interest in joining the Warriors last summer. There are currently no openings on the UH staff.

After he stepped down as head coach, Lee recommended Tengan as a possible replacement to the school's administration. Tengan considered taking the job after finishing the basketball season, but decided against pursuing the position.

Tengan has compiled a 47-25 record in three seasons as basketball coach. The Crusaders were ILH champions and state runner-up in his first season and finished fourth in the state in 2001. They failed to qualify for the state tournament this season.

The memo also thanked Lee for his years of coaching at St. Louis.

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