‘Iolani names alum Samsonas to replace Look as football coach

Pat Samsonas knows football, and he knows change pretty well, too.

His first seven years as an ‘Iolani student, his classmates were boys only, before girls were added in seventh grade. He was there when coach Eddie Hamada instilled and carried on school traditions.

To Samsonas, it was “Mr. Hamada,” their P.E. teacher who brought school legends to their class. In their jerseys chatting with elementary-aged keiki were Junior Tufono, Frank Lutu, Roland Ruff, Dirk Apao, Shaun Ushijima, Scotty LaBoy and more.

“We dreamt of playing in (Aloha Stadium). We’re watching their games. To finally play in the stadium was insane,” Samsonas recalled.

A year after Hamada stepped down as football head coach, Samsonas joined the varsity, playing as a sophomore under Glenn Young in 1990 and then two years under Wendell Look. Last month, Look stepped down after 35 years as head coach.

‘Iolani named Samsonas, 51, as Look’s successor on Thursday, completing his long journey, a circle that brings the former Kaiser football coach back home. When Look unexpectedly stepped down as football coach and athletic director, Samsonas was enjoying life as a spectator. Youngest son Zeke is a seventh grader playing club football, and middle child Zion is a junior center at Mililani.

“I didn’t really think about it,” he said of the job opening. “I did get asked by a couple of friends who are alumni. Up to that point, I didn’t really have interest.”

Samsonas began coaching in 1999 and was head football coach at Kaiser from 2005 to 2009. He has assisted at ‘Iolani and Kaiser, as well as with the Hawaii Kai Dolphins Pop Warner program. He was on staff under Tim Seaman at Kaiser until 2024.

“Last year, I stopped to watch my son (Zeke) play (at Hawaii Kai),” Samsonas said.

Older son Zion Samsonas plays for another former ‘Iolani athlete, Rod York.

The coaching situation and ramp-up at ‘Iolani was at tornado velocity.

When some Raiders alums got together to watch the NCAA men’s basketball championship game on April 6, the conversation began to swirl.

“From that point on, my phone has been going off. When I went in to talk with Coach Look and the athletic directors, there was overwhelming support from alumni,” Samsonas said. “Schools tend to be more corporate now and I’m trying to keep the tradition alive. I was a hard-headed young kid and I learned this ‘One Team’ way of life. I had Coach (Glenn) Young for one year, then Coach Look.”

Samsonas has Richard Torres as defensive coordinator and Clint Onigama as offensive coordinator. He has reeled in Sean “Ulu” Scanlan as offensive line coach.

After years of coaching in the OIA, the level of support at ‘Iolani will make a difference.

“Dominic Ahuna, my classmate, is the strength and conditioning coach at ‘Iolani. It’s so different from Kaiser,” Samsonas added. “I wouldn’t leave until 2 a.m. sometimes to make sure our white uniforms are white. Now I have people helping me like Teddi Pila. All this support, that’s a key factor.”