Damien head football coach and athletic director Eddie Klaneski gave a letter of resignation to the school about a week ago and his last day on the job will be Friday.
“During his employment at Damien, he raised the bar for all our athletes and coaches,” read an article on the school’s website, Damien.edu. “(As athletic director) he ushered in a new era of championships that have gained our school a solid reputation in sports. We are grateful for his time with us and wish him the best in his new journey.”
No reason was given for the departure of Klaneski, a 1993 Damien graduate and a former University of Hawaii football star.
Damien, according to the Damien.edu article, installed Anthony Tuitele as the new interim coach and Shawna Lau Kong as the lead liaison with the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. Tuitele is a former Monarchs athlete and a 2009 Damien graduate.
New Damien interim football coach Anthony Tuitele.
In his nine seasons as the Damien football coach, Klaneski went 47-43 and had the program on the rise.
In 2015 under Klaneski, the Monarchs advanced to the Division II state tournament and dropped a 42-33 decision to Konawaena in the first round.
The next year, in 2016, Damien also made the D-II state tourne, beating Waialua 40-0 in the first round before losing to Kapaa 21-14 in the semifinals.
Eddie Klaneski was Damien’s football coach for nine seasons.
Then, in the 2017, the Monarchs, now playing in Division I, topped Kauai 13-10 to in the state tourney to advance to the final — a 35-19 loss to Hilo.
The Damien coaching change is the 18th in Hawaii high school football since the end of the 2019 season.
Hawaii high school football coaching changes since 2019
>> CASTLE: Junior Pale, interim, in; John Hao out
>> DAMIEN: Anthony Tuitele, interim, in; Eddie Klaneski out
>> HILO (a): Lave Suiaunoa in; Kaeo Drummondo out
>> HILO (b): Chris Todd in; Lave Suiaunoa out
>> KALAHEO: Nelson Maeda in; Darrell Poole out
>> KEAAU: Ian Van Cleave in; Leo Abellera out
>> KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAII: Kealoha Wengler in; Shaun Perry out
>> KAPAA: Mike Tresler in; Philip Rapozo out
>> KOHALA: Jay Blanco in; Chad Atkins out
>> MAUI: Robert Dougherty in; Rodney Figueroa out
>> McKINLEY: Kale Ane in; Pat Silva out
>> MOANALUA: Vince Nihipali in; Savaii Eselu out
>> PAC-FIVE: Kena Heffernan in; Kip Botelho out
>> PUNAHOU (a): Leonard Lau in; Kale Ane out
>> PUNAHOU (b): Nate Kia in; Leonard Lau out
>> SAINT LOUIS: Ron Lee in; Cal Lee out
>> WAIALUA: Gary Wirtz in; Lincoln Barit out
>> WAIANAE: Matt Murakawa in: Mike Fanoga out
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