Lincoln Barit retired as the Waialua High football coach, according to athletic director Darnell Arceneaux.
A former Bulldogs player, Barit had been with the Wailua football program as either a varsity or JV head coach or assistant coach since 1980, except for five years when he was coaching in Pop Warner. And he had been the Bulldogs’ varsity head coach since 2003.
“It’s a little bit of a bummer for me,” said Arceneaux, who knows first-hand the positive impact Barit has made on the Wailua football community. “I was looking forward to working with him this summer, with the new weight room and the all the players coming back. Things happen and we make decisions on what’s best for us. I totally agree with the decision he’s making. He’s put so much work and so much time and effort into the community and the school. A wonderful man who has transformed a lot of young men and women, making them into community leaders.”
Lincoln Barit stepped down from his role as Waialua varsity head football coach. (Image credit: KHON2).
Barit is also planning to retire from his job at Hawaiian Electric next year, according to a recent story at HawaiiPrepWorld.com.
One of Barit’s special seasons came in 2016, when the Bulldogs won the OIA Division II championship, the school’s first football title since 1955.
“It will be a tough job to fill,” Arceneaux added. “Waialua is a small community and a tough area to get to. We’re looking for someone to fill big shoes.”
A search panel has been formed and Arceneaux hopes to have a new coach in place by July 1.
Until then, Arceneaux is helping to get the football athletes into the weight room and other related non-football activities.
“We’ve got around 45 guys ready to go,” he said. “And I know for sure that they want to play for Lincoln this year.”
Punahou Goes With Nate Kia As Head Coach To Replace Interim Man Leonard Lau
A 1992 Punahou graduate, Nate Kia is back with the Buffanblu as the head football coach.
He takes over for Leonard Lau, who was in the position on an interim basis.
New Punahou head coach Nate Kia.
(Image credit: Linkedin).
Kia was a senior defensive lineman at Utah, when Arecneaux joined the team as a freshman quarterback.
“Nate’s a great guy,” Arceneaux said. “He has great insight and is a great judge of character and a great teacher. Punahou got the right guy. He’s someone student-athletes can look up to and if they have questions or doubts, they will be able to have an easy conversation with him.”
COVID-Era Hawaii Head Coaching Changes: 12
There’s been 12 head coaching changes since December 2019, one month after the last official high school season was played in Hawaii and three months before the COVID-19 shutdown. There are 46 interscholastic teams in Hawaii.
Here is the full list:
>> CASTLE: Junior Pale, interim, in; John Hao out
>> HILO: Lave Suiaunoa in; Kaeo Drummondo out
>> KALAHEO: Nelson Maeda in; Darrell Poole out
>> KAPAA: Mike Tresler in; Philip Rapozo out
>> KOHALA: Jay Blanco in; Chad Atkins out
>> MAUI: Robert Dougherty in; Rodney Figueroa out
>> MOANALUA: Vince Nihipali in; Savaii Eselu out
>> PAC-FIVE: Kena Heffernan in; Kip Botelho out
>> PUNAHOU (a): Leonard Lau, interim in; Kale Ane out
>> PUNAHOU (b): Nate Kia in; Leonard Lau out
>> SAINT LOUIS: Ron Lee in; Cal Lee out
>> WAIALUA: To Be Named in; Lincoln Barit out
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