Saint Louis School athletic director Ed Paola named Crusaders assistant Matt Wright the new head football coach Friday after Darnell Arceneaux announced his resignation.

Paola spoke with the team before practice, the last one of the spring workouts. Then he met with parents to fill them in on the sudden switch.

Arceneaux was absent from spring practice for about a week, though he was present last Saturday at Saint Louis for the annual PIAA combine. He gave no hint that there was any issue about his coaching position.

Darnell Arceneaux:
Had a 26-7 record
as Saint Louis coach

"Yesterday, he stepped down as head coach and assistant athletic director to tend to personal matters," Paola said.

Wright, who has been on staff since Arceneaux’s return to Saint Louis in 2010, is officially the new head coach. There’s no "interim" attached to his title.

"At this late time, it makes no sense to open the job up for interviews," Paola noted. "Darnell did a great job putting together this staff. Spring ball didn’t miss a beat (without Arceneaux). I have full confidence in Matt."

Wright is a former UH linebacker who graduated from ‘Iolani. He is a part-time teacher at Saint Louis. He taught business and English this past year.

"We’re going to do our best for the kids and move forward," Paola said. "Matt cares about the kids. Nobody wants to take over in this kind of situation, but he wants to do what’s right for the kids."

Wright met with Paola during lunch hour at the AD’s office, but declined to comment.

Arceneaux guided the Crusaders to the 2010 state football championship. It was his second go-round at his alma mater, another brief stay that was two years long. His first stint, in ’03, lasted one season; he led Saint Louis to the state final that fall.

Before returning to Saint Louis, he coached for three years at Mililani, steering the Trojans to the OIA Red title game in ’09. He came back to Saint Louis in April 2010 after the school released John Hao. The school had gone through an exhaustive search, offering the position to alum Sam Papalii, then rescinding the offer later that day.

Arceneaux took over as the program was hurting from an off-field incident involving players, and the former All-State quarterback called on the Crusaders to be "gentlemen of Kalaepohaku."

Arceneaux was not available for comment as of Friday morning.

Arceneaux has three young children and coaches his oldest, a son, in youth sports.

Saint Louis was 6-4 overall last season and 11-1 in its state-championship season in ’10. Including the ’03 season, Arceneaux’s teams were 26-7 in his three years as head coach.