Football
Punahou win gives Ane 100th career coaching victory






MILILANI - Now there are 25.

Punahou's Kale Ane became the 25th Hawai'i high school coach to achieve 100 career victories when his Buffanblu beat Milillani, 24-14, Thursday night at John Kauinana Stadium. Ane's career total stands at 100-53 in this his 15th season at Punahou. He is not far off from being the school's career leader. The legendary  Dave Eldredge is 103-41-4.

He is the fourth active coach on the 25-man list. 'Iolani's Wendell Look leads the way with 162-100-3 with Lahainaluna's Robert Watson at 143-94-6 and 'Aiea's Wendell Say at 112-95-1.

"Oh, yeah, it was his hundredth win," Punahou senior quarterback Larry Tuileta said. "It feels good we were able to live up to his expectations. I'm glad we're the team to get him his hundredth win. I hope he's happy and I know the players are happy to get this first win."

Ane was just pleased with the performance of his team's first game as it prepares to defend its Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I crown.

"The kids played really well," he said. "We had a lot of guys out, but they came through so it was very rewarding."

Ane, a 1971 graduate of Punahou, was an all-star center and linebacker for the Buffanblu before continuing his career at Michigan State. He played seven seasons in the NFL, the first six with the Kansas City Chiefs and the last with the Green Bay Packers.

Ane's late father, Charley, himself a star at Punahou in the late 1940s, then at Southern California and in the NFL, also coached high school ball when his playing career was over. The elder Ane coached at Damien and St. Anthony on Maui.

"I saw how much he enjoyed it and kind of just followed," Kale Ane said of his father's influence. "It's very meaningful. It's the passion of my life. I'm very blessed to have chance to (coach)."

Tuileta said Ane is special because of how he treats the players.

"Although we make some mistakes over and over, he has that trust in us that when it comes down to it, we'll be able to do what we're taught," Tuileta said. "And I think that's what makes a good coach."

Coaching extends beyond the wins to Ane.

"Just being with the kids, enjoying them when they have success and being there when they fail and helping them reach their goals," Ane said. "All coaches will say similar things. But the kids really make it special and the people you work with. I'm very blessed."



Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].




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