Q&A: New Saint Louis boys basketball coach Sol Batoon
Sol Batoon is the new varsity basketball coach at Saint Louis.
“It was a long process. You have to respect the process. I really appreciate all the support that I got. I feel great. I’m looking forward to the opportunity, having one this late in my life. I’m excited having my battery recharged,” he said.
Batoon, 70, has spent most of his life in and around basketball. He was an assistant coach and assistant athletic director at Chaminade, then had stops at Kaiser, St. Joseph, Campbell and Thompson Academy. He was athletic director and boys basketball coach at St. Francis, starting a program from scratch and getting the gym constructed.
The administration received the resignation of previous coach Alan Silva less than a month ago, which prompted a search that drew interest near and far. Most of the basketball team’s players are currently suiting up for football, where the Crusaders are No. 1 in the Star-Advertiser Football Top 10.
“I’m trying to have an open mind so when we have tryouts after the state football championship, we can be objective about who we can have on the team. I know there’s great athletes,” Batoon said.
We see how long he last…..
Good pick great Coach took a D2 team an led them to multiple championship, team was better known as the D1 destroyers now he can have a D1 destroyer in the D1
He has had some good ball players that he hand picked to help him win his titles, and now he has the pool of athletes to choose from. He’s beaten Kahuku Basketball teams every single time they played against him with DJ at the helm at one time. Saint Louis picked the right man for the job, expect Crusaders Basketball in the States also, but I hate to say it, DII Champs Saint Francis Basketball is the real ones to beat, since they beat DI Champs Kahuku in a preseason which was Kahuku’s only loss on their record.
“I hate to say it, DII Champs Saint Francis Basketball is the real ones to beat, since they beat DI Champs Kahuku in a preseason which was Kahuku’s only loss on their record.”
Seems like people give more clout to SF beating Kahuku last year than they do winning the D2 championship. BTW, SF wasn’t the only loss, Punahou and Findlay Prep were the only other teams to beat Kahuku in pre-season. But back to the game: First off, this was a “D2” team that a year earlier made it to the state finals vs basically a brand new Kahuku team in their second pre-season game together. Secondly, and maybe most important, the Kahuku squad was short two starters: Daniel Fotu AND Cody Sauvao (plus Kekaula Kaniho). With both those guys in the lineup, Kahuku was beating Mt Vernon (NY), De La Salle (CA), and Southwind (TN) at the ‘Iolani Classic. There’s no way that by the end of December SF would have stood a chance against Kahuku because the team had their time to finally gel. I couldn’t believe people were still questioning who was better at the end of last season.Had they played again at the end of the season, I’d predict that the game would’ve been similar to Kahuku vs Anuenue. People can continue to rah rah about that pre-season win over Kahuku but they are smoking angel dust if they feel with a complete roster Kahuku would’ve lost to SF.
I wouldn’t touch this guy with a ten foot pole. He’s a shyster and a con man who uses up players and then throws them aside. There’s not a rule on the books that he hasn’t broken. …He will fit in well at that school!