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Waianae went fishing and caught a big one out in Makaha.
The westside community is abuzz because the Waianae Seariders football team’s new football coach is former Seattle Seahawks defensive back and University of Hawaii defensive coordinator Thom Kaumeyer.
Normally reserved Waianae athletic director Kekoa Kaluhiokalani was bursting with energy talking about the new hire when Bedrock Sports Hawaii inquired to see if the vacancy was filled.
“I get more excited every time I talk to him,” Kaluhiokalani said. “He’s living in Makaha and he loves it here. He wants to give back to the community. He’s humble, played pro ball, coached pro ball. We really got a good one. He turned in his resume right about the time the position opened up.”
Right now, Kaumeyer is finishing up consulting work with the Fujitsu Frontiers, an American football team in Japan, and he’s expected to join the Seariders at the beginning of June.
Matt Murakawa, a longtime Waianae assistant coach, served as the interim head coach last season after Mike Fanoga stepped down. Murakawa is in charge of running spring drills until Kaumayer gets there.
“Matt has been wonderful,” Kaluhiokalani said. “He’s all about helping the kids. It wasn’t about keeping the (head coaching) position for him. He has a lot on his plate. He’s a AP math teacher and also the head wrestling coach. Thom has been in communication with Matt almost every day. And one of Thom’s strengths is he helps build coaches.”
According to Kaluhiokalani, four people including Murakawa, applied for the position.
Under Murakawa in 2021, the Seariders went 3-5 overall and 3-3 in the OIA Open Division. Waianae lost two playoff games — 33-7 to eventual state Open champion Kahuku in the OIA semifinals and 33-14 to Campbell in the OIA third-place game.
Kaumeyer, 55, who is from Encinitas, California, and played college football for Oregon, was a member of the Seattle Seahawks in 1989 and 1990 and the New York Giants in 1991 and 1992.
In addition he was a defensive quality control coach under Dan Reeves with the Atlanta Falcons in 2000 and 2001 and an assistant defensive backs coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2008 to 2011.
At the FBS Division I college level, Kaumeyer was the defensive coordinator at San Diego State from 2002 to 2006, Tulane in 2007, Kentucky in 2008 and Hawaii under Norm Chow in 2012 and 2013.
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ALSO AT BedrrockSportsHawaii.com, from July 6, 2021:
BREAKING: Waianae Football Coaching Switch — Matt Murakawa In, Mike Fanoga Out
