John Hao said yesterday he plans to re-apply to return as Saint Louis School's football coach next season.

Hao has been the Crusaders' head coach the past two seasons, but new Saint Louis athletic director Ed Paola said Tuesday — his first full day on the job — that the position was officially vacant. Shortly after former AD Ulima Afoa was let go on Feb. 19 and Pat Hamamoto was introduced as principal three days later, the school requested that all head coaches for the fall and winter sports submit "courtesy letters of resignation," to allow the incoming athletic director to assess each program and hire coaches individually.

Hao did not submit a courtesy letter of recommendation, but spoke with Paola later Tuesday afternoon and said yesterday he planned to re-apply for his job.

"I'm not going to be the one to give up on the kids," Hao said.

Paola said Tuesday he hoped to fill the football coach position by sometime next week, adding the school already had received several resumes. In a radio interview yesterday afternoon on ESPN1420, Paola said "there are 10 or 12 guys I'm in the process of talking to (regarding the coaching vacancy)," adding, "John Hao is a possible candidate."

In regard to an evaluation of the football program under Hao, Paola said, "There were some things that were very good, there were some things that didn't agree with my philosophy."

Hao said he expects the pool of candidates to include several former Crusaders. Former Saint Louis coach Delbert Tengan, who was a top candidate for the AD job, said Tuesday he did not plan to apply for the football job. Former Crusaders quarterback Joel Lane, currently the quarterbacks coach at 'Iolani, said Tuesday afternoon he had yet to have formal discussions about the opening.

Former Saint Louis quarterback/head coach Darnell Arceneaux said he is "happy" with his current role as Mililani's football coach and also did not submit a resume as of yesterday afternoon.

Former Crusaders defensive coordinator Jacob Yoro and JV head coach Craig Stutzmann have college assistant jobs at Pacific (Ore.) and Memphis, respectively.

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