A Maui High teacher who announced earlier this week that he was stepping down as the school’s football coach is being investigated on suspicion of first-degree attempted sexual assault.

David V. Bui, 39, of Wai­luku was arrested Thursday and then later released pending further investigation, Maui police said Friday.

Police said an investigation revealed that text messages that "were of (an) explicit nature" were exchanged between Bui and a female high school student.

Bui decided Tuesday to resign as Maui High’s football coach in favor of coaching baseball for his son’s Little League team, according to the news website Maui­Now.com.

Bui was unavailable for comment.

Bui, who teaches ninth-grade English, has been at Maui High since August 2004 and a football coach at the school since 2005, according to the state Department of Education.

Prior to teaching at Maui High School, Bui taught in a similar capacity at King Kekau­like High School, the department said.

DOE spokeswoman Dona­lyn Dela Cruz said school officials began a separate investigation Tuesday afternoon as soon as they learned about police allegations.

Dela Cruz said Bui was on paid leave, pending the outcome of the investigation.