MEDIA RELEASE

Clifton Walters has been named the head coach of the Konawaena High School football team, it was announced Wednesday by Bill Trumbo, Konawaena athletic director.

Walters, who lead Kealakehe High School to the 2006 Big Island Interscholastic Federation championship in his only year at the school, has a long interscholastic coaching background in Alberta, Canada, in football and basketball.

“I’ve been out of coaching for a few years, and I’m ready to go back,” the retired businessman said. “My passion is to work with young people. That’s where I’m happiest.”

Walters coached the Lethbridge Collegiate Insitute Rams, a public high school, to 15 conference titles in 20 years. His record as a head football coach there is 260-20. He had three undefeated teams and sent 134 players to college programs.

“Our goal at Konawaena is to win a Division II league title,” Walters said. “But I also believe that we can compete at the state level. I went to all of Konawaena’s home games last year, and I truly feel there is enough talent and pride there to compete for a state title.”

Trumbo said he is excited about the future of the football program.

“Konawaena has had a long tradition of success in football and I believe Clift will return us to the days of packed houses at Julian Yates field,” Trumbo said.

Walters said his first task is to meet with the community and to let them know who he is and what he plans to do at Konawaena, which he said he has fallen in love with over the past few years.

“The people up mauka are the salt of the earth,” Walters said. “I like to put it this way: If you go to a game at Kealakehe, you get a hot dog at the concession. At Konawaena, you get beef stew served by a fireman, or fried fish cooked by a coach.”

Walters said he is also going to work on a coaching staff. “I invite anyone who has an interest to contact me or Bill at the school,” he said. “I’m also interested in seeing if any of the guys on last year’s staff are also willing to coach.”

Walters replaces Aaron Nagata, a former all-state standout at Konawaena. Nagata resigned earlier this year to pursue additional career educational opportunities.

For more information, call Clift Walters at 557-1277.