Regardless of the final outcome, it would've been a win-win situation.

Joe Balangitao stepped into his new role as the Maui Interscholastic League's executive director on Monday at the league's athletic directors meeting. Balangitao comes from Lahainaluna, where he spent the past seven seasons as athletic director.

"My long-term goal wasn't to be executive director of the MIL," said Balangitao, 55. "I got talked into it. I figured I'd apply and it was a win-win situation for me if I didn't get the job. I was happy where I was at.

"I look forward to new challenges and with the help of all the athletic directors, we can help the league."

Balangitao replaces longtime MIL executive director Stephen Kim, who retired in December after 17 years. While at Lahainaluna, Balangitao saw some of the unique travel issues the MIL faces. The MIL is the only league in the state with schools on three islands. Lahainaluna, located in West Maui, has to drive at least an hour to get to league games, even longer for games at Hana, which is on the other side of the island.

Before Lahainaluna, Balangitao spent 15 years at Baldwin, 10 as the Bears' head football coach.

"Lahainaluna is a smaller school and we do a lot of traveling," Balangitao said. "I saw the other side of the picture, the transportation issues. You feel for Lana'i, Moloka'i, Hana. For them to get to a game, it's across the ocean or drive to the other side of the island. We have a lot of trips. That experience opened my eyes, to where at Baldwin, we'd walk to the stadium from our locker room. It's three minutes away."

Lahainaluna principal Michael Nakano admired that Balangitao would teach his coaches and pass along information to students and parents. Balangitao would offer classes for his coaches that discussed ways to develop relationships with students, liability, harassment — topics he learned at meetings on the Mainland.

"He sets the standard for the whole athletic department," Nakano said. "He united the athletic program, brought coaches and kids together."

Balangitao will help Lahainaluna transition in the next few months. The school hopes to have a new athletic director by Oct. 1.