Dean of OIA
coaches retires

After three state titles, Kalaheo's Pete Smith
will likely become the school's
next athletic director

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By Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.com

The achievements will be hard to match, even harder to surpass:

>> Fourteen Oahu Interscholastic Association boys basketball titles in 17 years;

>> A run of 76 consecutive OIA victories between 1993 and 2000.

>> An overall record of 413-63 (.845 winning percentage), including three state titles (1985, '95 and '01).

Those are the numbers that Kalaheo High School has put up since Pete Smith took over as head coach in 1983. The OIA banner that the Mustangs will hang in their gym later this year will be the last under the dean of OIA coaches, who resigned yesterday.

"It's something I've been thinking about ever since the state tournament," said Smith, whose team finished fifth last month. "The time is right for me to look at some other opportunities. Administration is something I've enjoyed and I'd like to go into again, either athletic or school administration.

"But for right now, I'll be following the career of my youngest son Kea, who is a freshman and running track at Kamehameha."

Smith is considered the likely successor to Lee Cashman, the only athletic director Kalaheo has ever known. The Windward school opened in 1973, some 18 months after Smith helped Kailua to the 1972 state basketball title.

Cashman said he is looking to retire this December.

"Pete put us on the map," Cashman said yesterday. "Kalaheo IS Pete Smith basketball. He's an excellent teacher and I'm sure every parent who has had their son come through our program is appreciative of the job he did for their child.

"I'm sad that he is leaving. His record is phenomenal, as is his preparation for every game. Even years that we didn't have super talent, we'd still come out on top. And that was due to Pete's coaching."

Cashman said he'd be more than happy if Smith replaced him when the vacancy opened.

"I'll always be concerned about Kalaheo athletics," said Cashman. "And I know that if Pete becomes our next athletic director, he would do more than an excellent job."

Smith has also served as Kalaheo's acting vice principal, stepping down during basketball season because of the DOE rule that coaches cannot be administrators. The 1972 Kailua graduate has a degree in physical education, with a minor in social studies, from Lewis-Clark State in Idaho. He also played basketball for the Warriors for two seasons.

Smith's resume also includes a stint as head coach at Chaminade and three years as a Silverswords assistant to his former Kailua coach Merv Lopes. Kalaheo has made it to the final four of the state tournament 10 of the past 13 years.

Smith's middle son Alika, a Hawaii-Hilo assistant, played for Hawaii from 1994 to '98.

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