Sam Delos Reyes was not crazily busy Saturday. Not like last year and all those years before.
The Campbell Sabers were playing the Hilo Vikings in a season-opening football game, and Delos Reyes was not the man constantly making sure if everything — the whole production — was in order.
Those days are gone, and Delos Reyes was relaxed to da max — or at least as much as he could be. He still had a duty to perform, and not an easy one. He was the public address announcer in the press box.
The longtime Campbell athletic director’s retirement became official at the end of July, so running one of the biggest public high school athletic departments (32 varsity teams, according to HHSAA.org) is not his obligation anymore.
Delos Reyes announced to the crowd that Rory Pico was the new athletic director. Pico, the head baseball coach and an assistant athletic director for years, has the interim tag and is expected to apply for the permanent post.
There is one drawback if Pico gets the permanent AD position. He would not be able to retain his baseball coaching duties. That would not be an easy spot to fill. Pico led the Sabers to three OIA championships to go along with the state Division I championship in 2015.
When asked about his intentions for the future, Pico respectfully declined comment. He did wear a baseball-style jersey to Campbell’s 54-14 nonleague victory over Hilo, if that was some sort of hint. Otherwise, he was — as usual — doing his job, or, to be more clear, doing Delos’ Reyes old job.
Sam de Los reyes got Nanakuli into the state championship high school football game in 1982. Damn near beat St Louis too.
He also got rid of an alumni coach who was a good, loyal & great example of man in Amosa Amosa.
And replaced him with DJ.
Maybe das why he retiring.
or not.
not a moment too soon! game has passed him by years ago just collecting his paycheck. win at all cost philosophy does not reflect public school vision. See ya! don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Hope Rory P. will run a program that builds character, fairness, and all those good things that build the athletes into young men & women.