Torres taking over at Kahuku

The school will promote the JV head football coach, who also leads its wrestling programs

Reggie Torres, the longtime and highly successful wrestling coach at Kahuku, has been tabbed to take over the varsity football program.

Several sources from the North Shore, including one candidate for the job, confirmed that the school made its decision on Wednesday night.

When contacted last night, Torres did not confirm his promotion from junior varsity head football coach, but he did say Kahuku officials told him he was the leading candidate.

Torres also said the school was planning to make an announcement early this morning.

Kahuku athletic director Joe Whitford did not return calls from the Star-Bulletin yesterday.

But former Kahuku defensive coordinator Byron Beatty confirmed what other sources were willing to say only off the record.

"(Principal) Lisa (DeLong) called me to let me know about their decision," Beatty said last night. "I heard that she also called (Doug) Semones."

Semones is a former head coach for the Red Raiders.

"I was in there for less than 30 minutes and I was out," Beatty added. "Some of the other guys I talked to said they felt like it was rushed, like they already had an agenda."

There were 19 applicants, including a few with college ties. One was Gary Croshaw, former coach at Dixie Junior College in Utah. Interviews were conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Torres guided Kahuku to the boys wrestling state championships twice in the past three years. Kahuku's girls have won three state titles in the last five seasons under Torres. The Red Raiders swept the boys and girls state championships in March.

Torres was hopeful his name would be announced as Livai's successor today.

He added that he thought he'd be able to continue in his duties as wrestling coach in addition to football, if he gets the job.

"We have a lot of great assistants in wrestling and they would be able to handle it during the times the sports overlap," Torres said.

The selection process for head football coach followed the resignation of Siuaki Livai, who guided the program for 10 years -- and won four of the last six state titles -- before stepping down last month.