Eddie Klaneski is back as the Damien football head coach.
In an unusual turn of events, Klaneski was reinstated Tuesday after being let go Thursday by Brother Brian Walsh, the school president,
Also, Brother Walsh has been let go. The move to reinstate Klaneski was made by interim head of school Kyle Atabay. Klaneski will also resume his role as a leader in the athletic department — as the athletic director. Previously, he was a co-athletic director with Rudy Alejo, who was recently let go as co-AD and retained as a teacher at the school.
Walsh’s decision to release Klaneski and boys basketball coach Alvin Stephenson was based on his outlook on COVID-19 and the likely scenario that Hawaii high school fall sports will be drastically different — if fall seasons are conducted at all in light of the health crisis.
At the time, Walsh said, “Given all the guidance that is being provided by authorities on the reopening of schools, all of which indicates a probable change in the number of teams that will be fielded, the length of each season and the presence or absence of spectators, it seemed in the best interest of all involved in our athletic program and of the school, to inform some coaches that at the present time a position is not available.” That decision signaled that the Monarchs were not going to be playing football this fall.
