Supporters back Kaiser football coach

Supporters of Kaiser football coach Will Lobendahn gathered for a second morning in a row on Lunalilo Home Road in front of the Hawaii Kai school.

The mix of parents and players drew honks and cheers from some drivers. Supporters had already gathered 600 signatures on a petition, and Friday they waved signs and wore T-shirts in support of Lobendahn reading:

"COACH WILL
HE STAY
WE PLAY"

The coach confirmed recently that he had met with principal John Sosa and athletic director Rodney Iwasaki. He was told that he would not be in charge of spring football. The team had spring practice this week under Iwasaki, a former football coach at Roosevelt. Without the boycotting student-athletes, there are 13 on the field for spring ball, parents and players said.

Sosa and Iwasaki have not returned calls from the Star-Advertiser for more than a week.

It’s been a gut-wrenching time for players. Leimana Chong-Gum, a junior safety, is one of the leaders of the players support group.

"I feel kind of bummed. Everything that he started, we truly believe in him. He did everything for the kids, the mandatory study halls, always on time for school, taught us to always have respect for each other," Chong-Gum said. "We started something so strong with him and now they’re trying to cut him off."

Players wore supportive T-shirts to school during the week, but say they were told to leave the cafeteria by Iwasaki unless the shirts were taken off.

Players also were told that if they continue to boycott spring practice, they will be cut from the program.

"It’s like they don’t care about us, forcing us to do something we don’t really want to do," said Chong-Gum, a member of the ROTC program who has a 3.2 grade-point average. "We want everyone to know about this. Coach did so much for us."

Among the supporters was Raquel Ikei, whose husband, Chad, has been heavily involved with his alma mater this spring. Chad Ikei’s training program is renowned among local college and pro athletes.

"A year ago, they had five players training in the spring. Now it’s 45, and that’s because of Coach Lobendahn’s commitment to these kids," she said.

Lobendahn’s position as a football coach — he is a substitute teacher on campus — has been on rocky ground before. Last year, several players transferred to Kailua, their home district. Other players transferred to Kalani.

Roughly two weeks ago, a complaint was cited against Lobendahn involving a player in the weight room. Though the player’s statement was later retracted, it spurred administrators to dig deeper.

Supporters said the administration later dropped the complaint, but decided to release Lobendahn, citing the two-year win-loss record — 2-19, with one of those wins coming by forfeit. Kaiser fielded one of the OIA Red’s smallest teams, including a number of JV call-ups.

But in another turnaround, administrators are re-investigating the incident with the player in the weight room.

Lobendahn, a former Saint Louis and Virginia Union lineman who is self-admittedly "outspoken," is an imposing figure on campus, but his popularity as a passionate, stern taskmaster hasn’t swayed. Friends, including students who aren’t in the football program, have started a pair of "Support Coach Will Lobendahn" Facebook pages.

The more popular page had drawn nearly 2,400 members as of Friday evening.

Chad Ikei had plenty to say — and write — on the Facebook page.

"I chose to volunteer my time and invest into the Kaiser football program because of one man: Will Lobendahn," he wrote. "If we can have an impact on the decision to reinstate Coach Will as he has impacted so many of our lives, then we will be the lucky ones."