Abu Maafala told Hawaii Prep World on Monday that he is a candidate for the Kamehameha football head coaching job.
Maafala is a former standout defensive lineman for Kamehameha and Cal.
“I have not heard anything officially,” Maafala said. “They (the Warriors administration) said they will be in contact and let me know either way.”
Multiple trusted sources close to Kamehameha believe Maafala is going to be named as head coach, but that could not be confirmed.
A call and an email to athletic director Glennie Adams on Monday morning were not returned by noon. Kamehameha is closed for Prince Kuhio Day, so it is highly likely that Adams has the day off.
Hawaii Prep World confirmed one other candidate. Dennis McKnight, the former Hawaii assistant who was a Kamehameha assistant under Doug Cosbie last season, said Monday that he applied for the job, but that he was never called for an interview.
Hawaii Prep World could not confirm whether Rich Miano, another former Hawaii assistant and former Kaiser head coach, or former Kamehameha head coach David Stant are official candidates.
Miano texted Hawaii Prep World that he would “rather not comment.” When the job first opened, Miano said he intended to apply.
Stant spent six years as the Warriors’ head coach from 2007 to ’12 and captured Interscholastic League of Honolulu and state Division I titles in 2009. He left to take a coaching job in Japan and is still living in that country, according to sources, who also said he interviewed for the Kamehameha job.
Cosbie, the former star tight end for the Dallas Cowboys, took over for Stant and resigned in December to take care of family and business matters in California.
Maafala is a coach at West Liberty University in West Virginia. He coached linebackers for three seasons and has been the special teams coordinator, and running backs, tight ends and wide receivers coach for the past two seasons.
“This is something that my wife and I talked about as worthy of applying for,” Maafala said via cellphone Monday. “Kamehameha and college has given so much to the both of us and we want to give back. That’s something we describe as our mission.”
Maafala graduated from Kamehameha in 2002, played for Cal through 2006 and played in the 2007 Hula Bowl.
Waiting to see who Kamehameha-Maui going to pick for there new head coach.
Some are saying former Kamehameha-Hilo head coach Alima Afoa is the favorite.
He is a counselor on the Maui campus.
thanks Mauian5; I knew they were looking for an AD. Did not know they were looking for a football coach. Cody Nakamura stepped down? Or was it somebody else.
Abu Ma’afala played at UH for June Jones before transferring to Cal. I always thought Doug Cosbie was an odd choice for the Kamehameha job. He obviously got the money. He got the surfer boy good looks, NFL pedigree. Obviously many Dallas and California people going set him up with good business opportunities ON THE MAINLAND in exchange for Doug Cosbie being their ‘friend’.
Yes Nick, Coach Cody Nakamura resigned due to work and family obligations.
I heard Arnold Martinez has also applied for the Kapalama job. I think Miano or Maafala would be the best for that job, both have the college experience and Miano has prove he can turn around a HS team.
I didnt know about Nakamura but I hope Afoa gets the job, he’s a good buy.
Martinez applied for the KS job before. He won’t get hired. He had a lot of parental complaints at MoHS. Plus he quit on the team several times in playoff games when they got pounded by Leilehua one year.
Definitely wouldn’t hire Miano. We want a leader of young men. Miano has a “shady” past as many would call it.
88, do you have a real name? or hiding, put your name to your statements. My son played for Coach Martinez for 4 years, Coach dedicated his life to our program for 11 years. I am sure he had a number of parent complaints, I heard some, but I bet every coach on this island has had parental complaints And to say he quit is unreal, who are you to judge him or Miano. I heard a lot about Miano and financial issues and such but I do not know anything personally about it, so does that give me the right to say he is shady, you are something else. I can tell you this from first hand knowledge Coach Martinez cared about his players and parents beyond measure, he never quit on our kids during a game and in life, to this day he checks in on my son and my son graduated in 2012. He took players weekly to IHS to serve food and help clean the facilities, he taught our kids more than just football. I can go on and on about the many accomplishments of the program under his time but I will end here. It doesn’t matter if he got hired at KS or not but to attack his character by calling him a quitter is out of place. He is a great coach with HS, College and NFL experience but even better he is a great man of character, what you would call a “leader of young men”.
Rich Miano has a “shady” past? How so, 88? Look how Kaiser has slumped since he left. Same thing when Ron Lee left Kaiser in 1982. The program immediately declined.
Damn I didn’t know you wanted to be me bro…. Sad sad sad.
On another note Kahuku looks like they are gonna surprise a lot of people in Vegas. Kids are working hard out at Laie Park……
Martinez is a great guy, maybe some people like 88 dont like his personality and is a hater but Martinez has opened the doors and helped many of our young athletes in various sports not just football. Just the simple fact that we are talking about Martinez means he is doing big things. Unlike little minded 88 living out in the country only talk good about Kahuku and hate on everyone else. LOOSE MONEY!
Damn…. don’t get your panties in bunch buddy. The administrators of this site can verify that I am the original 88 and that I posted nothing negative about your 2 boyfriends. Take it easy with the name calling, sheesh…..
I’m sorry 88. It’s just that because of my small mindedness and lose money mentality I didn’t understand that when you posted ” damn I didn’t know you wanted to be me bro.” That you were talking about the guy posting as you. So I felt the urge to defend the honor of 2 other grown men. My bad.
See how easy it is to post as someone else…
Look at the game film vs. Leilehua around 3 or 4 years ago. After they were down by 30 or 40 he just stood on the sideline with his arms crossed for nearly 1 entire quarter. If that isn’t quitting I do not know what is. I guess we have a difference of opinion regarding quitting on your team.
As for Miano, go and ask the community. There are more important things than winning. Please do your due diligence before you ignorantly comment.
I have multiple personality disorder, yes I’m bipolar!
I love everyone and I am happy to be here! I MUA Kahuku Red Raiders (Yes I know we copied Iolani and used their name).
thanks Mauian5