Hilo football coach David Baldwin has been placed on leave and co-head coaches have been named by athletic director Kurt Kawachi.
“As of Wednesday, August 5, Hilo High football coach David Baldwin was placed on leave from the football program,” Kawachi said. “We are currently organizing the staff, and are planning to have co-head coaches for the season with Kaeo Drummondo and Lisa Pana.
“We’re planning to move forward with the season, and plan to play Punahou this Saturday, and Kamehameha-Kapalama next week at Wong Stadium.”
Drummondo and Pana were assistants with the Vikings last season. Drummondo is the team’s offensive coordinator.
Baldwin took over a Hilo team that finished 0-10 in 2011, and one year later had the Vikings in the BIIF championship.
In 2012, Kealakehe beat Hilo 40-22 for its third consecutive league title. But the Vikings had a turnaround season in Baldwin’s first year for the ages, and finished with a 7-3 record.
The Vikings have captured the last two BIIF titles, and offered the league hope that it may one day snap its 0-for-16 record at the HHSAA Division I state tournament.
Last year in the first round at Aloha Stadium, Hilo led Kahuku 10-0 at halftime, before falling 20-10.
No team has suffered a bigger talent drain than the Vikings, who lost a whopping 12 All-BIIF first-team picks, including running back Tristin Spikes and linebacker Ofa Fahuia, the players of the year for offense and defense.
Among the BIIF teams, Hilo plays the most interesting preseason game, taking on Punahou (8-1), the Division I state runner-up, on Saturday in Honolulu.
Next week, the Vikings will host Kamehameha-Kapalama at 7 p.m. at Wong Stadium in another preseason monster showdown.
During the summer, Baldwin ran a free passing clinic at Panaewa Park for youngsters.
He’s also been involved with Special Olympics.
Baldwin coached Kamehameha-Hawaii to the BIIF Division II title in 2010, but the Warriors abruptly announced a coaching change before the 2011 season.
Hilo opens its BIIF season at Hawaii Prep on Saturday, Aug. 29.