James Millwood, who had more career victories than any active O'ahu Interscholastic Association football coach, stepped down last Thursday after 13 seasons at the Mililani helm.

Millwood has four children between the ages of 6 and 15, all of whom are active in sports. He cited family time as one reason for deciding to leave the program he had transformed into a perennial OIA championship contender.

"(Coaching football) is a year-round job, and there's so many other things I want to do right now," said Millwood, who also teaches at Mililani. "I thought about staying one more year, but after the (HUB) all-star game and Christmas, a lot of things came into play."

Millwood, a former all-star defensive lineman for the Trojans, began his coaching career as a Mililani assistant soon after high school graduation. In 1987, at age 22, he was promoted to JV head coach and seven years later he became the third varsity football head coach in school history.

Back then, the Trojans were in the OIA's Blue (third tier) Division. They moved up to the White (second tier) in 1998, then the Red (top tier) one year later and have been there ever since.

In 2003, Mililani won its first Western Division title and qualified for its first state tournament. The following year, the Trojans won a school-record 10 games and played in its first OIA championship game, losing to Kahuku.

"He did a super job," said longtime friend and Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez. "He put Mililani on the map and took that program to the next level."

Millwood's 84 career victories are more than any active OIA coach. 'Aiea's Wendell Say, the dean of OIA coaches, has 81 wins in his 15 seasons.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.