Farrington’s Randall Okimoto said Wednesday night he is leaving his job as football coach of the Governors after 16 years at the helm.
Okimoto informed the school administration of his decision Monday and met with his players to tell them on Wednesday.
Okimoto plans to spend more time with his children, ages 9 and 4, and wife. He also said he had been weighing the pros and cons of coaching/raising a family for about the last six seasons and nearly decided several times to step down earlier than this year. He said his decision was a very tough one to make and that he thought about it for a long time.
“But I wanted to see the (new) stadium through,” he said about the school’s Skippa Diaz Stadium that opened last year. “There are so many things I will remember about coaching here for the last 21 years (five as an assistant).”
Okimoto did not rule out the possibility of returning to coaching at some point when his kids get older.
It is not known who will be Okimoto’s replacement. Farrington has begun its search, and Okimoto has asked the administration if he can be involved with the process of hiring a new coach.
Okimoto is a 1992 Farrington graduate and he played football as a standout running back from 1988 to 1991 under Skippa Diaz, who he credits with teaching him may life lessons.
Okimoto, who won 116 games in his 16 years as head coach, remains one of only four running backs to rush for at least 2,000 yards in a season. As a senior with the Govs in 1991, Okimoto rushed for 2,149 yards and 33 touchdowns in 14 games. Only Kahuku’s Mark Atuaia, who rushed for 2,377 yards that same year, has totaled more rushing yards in a single season.
His 116 wins surpassed the coach he played for, Diaz, who went 108-90-5 in his 17 seasons as head coach between 1982 and ’98. Farrington athletic director Harold Tanaka took over for Diaz in 1999.
The Governors hosted their first football game on campus last year when they played Kamehameha to open the 2017 season at brand new Skippa Diaz Stadium.
Okimoto said at the time, “If I’m not the coach next year or whatever, that’s OK. I’m so happy that Kalihi, that Farrington has this. It’s one of those things you can die happier now.”
Here’s Okimoto’s interview after the game.
You can read more about Okimoto and his decision to step down in Friday’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
To give up that many years of your life being a coach.. I applaud you Coach Randall!!! I know for a fact being a high school coach in this state is rough. Low pay, parents who think they know it all, students on probation, etc…
if your children were not that young, i would say stay on. you doing good job with what you have and try to achieve more. ignore those parents that are still trying to win their high school letters.
Randall, you da man.
One of theee hardest places to coach and you did it for 16 years.
Happy for you and your keiki, enjoy my bruddah you deserve it.
I think Okimoto is a good guy and wish him luck in whatever is up for him, but I think the Govs were due for some new blood in their program.
The Farrington community owe you some plate lunches! Thanks for helping out with the kids!
The new coach”s first job is to stop his D1 top linemen from being recruited to Mililani, St.Louis, Punahou etc.etc. At the end of the day the kids want to play for their hood. Along side their childhood friends. Farrington has an opportunity to become a great program.
#6 Coach C: Do you realize how ignorant you sound? Way to stereotype that the kids around Kalihi are just big Samoan linemen and want to play their “hood.” Unreal and classless. The article is about Coach Okimoto (a real Coach not just a self proclaimed one like yourself) stepping down. Yet you found a way input your bitterness about recruiting like you usually do with previous posts. This should be about giving thanks and praise to Coach Okimoto. “Coach” C please keep your ingnorance and two cents to yourself.
Coach C-
Good luck to whoever gets the job, thats been happening since the 80’s.
At the end of the day, parents want the best for their kids whatever it may be.
BTW, what sport you coach again?
Coach taught kids the right things other than Football … WILL BE MISSED
You have all the support coach, best luck to your future. . .
He should be their AD.
Coach C – brotherhood > neighborhood, dont forget it.
Coach Okimoto= All Class
Hovah, who said Samoans? You are the fool that throws the stereo type card down. Hood? Dude term is used in any neighborhood. Again when Farrington puts a great program together, more of the boys will play for Kalihi.
Thank you for your service. Your name forever will be recalled along with the other legends: Tom Kiyosaki, Eki Espinda and Skippa Diaz. Your contributions to that wonderful place known as Kalihi cannot be quantified, but it is an infinitely better place because of you.
Coach C=
Coach Cannot coach for nothing!
Coach Can talk alot of $h#t!!
Coach Chaddup already!!
Coach Cheeehuuu!!
Best of luck to Coach Okimoto!!
You Will be missed!!
Congrats Coach, and good luck with your family and future.
Kahuku Admin: Take notes! This is how it’s supposed to be done. Support your good coaches. It’s not rocket science.
The Govs still commited to their Vegas trip to play Carson HS in September for their pre-season game?
When an individual give 16 years of his life to coach at Farrington, that’s admirable and anyone who says any negative things about this man or Farrington is a fool. Both me and my wife grew up in Kalihi and it’s full of beautiful people which most of you high maka maka nose jobs have no clue on.
Nothing to be ashamed of Coach family first…I wish you nothing but the best, it’s gonna be a little weird not seeing you on that field. You will always be 1 of kalihi’s best role models and a father figure to many boys..It was a honor to play for you Coach Okimoto!!!! #GovNation #bleedmaroon