Fred Lee went to the baseball diamond to get his new football coach.
The Kaimuki athletic director, who recently let go successful football head man David Tautofi, installed Bulldogs baseball coach Reid Yoshikawa to replace Tautofi on an interim basis.
Reid Yoshikawa, Kaimuki’s new interim football coach.
(Image credit: Hawaii News Now screenshot).
Lee confirmed the switch to Yoshikawa as interim coach to Bedrock Sports Hawaii via cell phone Monday afternoon. Bedrock is awaiting an email from Lee with more information on Yoshikawa’s coaching background and will provide it here when it is received.
According to Tautofi, Lee’s decision to fire Tautofi on Aug. 31 was because of a disagreement that went unresolved and that the school ultimately classified its decision based on “non-compliance with school policies.”
Yoshikawa is a Kaimuki grad and a former Bulldogs baseball player who was named to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s All-State second team in 2000 in a utility role.
Under Tautofi in 2019, the Bulldogs football team went 10-3, winning the OIA Division II title despite extra-low participation numbers. That team only had about 25 players for a 35-28 first-round state tournament loss to Kapaa.
About a month later, in December 2019, there were rumors that Tautofi was leaving his post. But he had second thoughts and stayed on the job. At that time, he was vocal about not getting the support he felt he needed from the Kaimuki administration.
Tautofi was the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Coach of the Year in 2019 and his teams went 27-16 in five seasons.
In 2018, the Bulldogs won a state football first-round game, 28-27 against Kamehameha-Hawaii before losing to Kapaa 20-12 in the semifinals.
Yoshikawa’s first Oahu Interscholastic Association football game of 2021 will be at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 16 against Radford at the Farrington High School football field.
Yoshikawa’s replacement of Tautofi is the 19th head coaching change in Hawaii high school football since the last November 2019 state tournament.
Hawaii high school football coaching changes since November 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
>> KAIMUKI: Reid Hoshikawa in; David Tautofi 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
—
MORE AT BedrockSportsHawaii.com:
>> ‘Iolani And Saint Louis II Also Grab Weekend Football Victories
>> RIVALS WAIKIKI GAME OF THE WEEK: Saint Louis’ Hawaii Homecoming Is A Success, Down Goes Punahou, 41-23
—
