Defensive coordinator Kaeo Drummondo will join Lisa Pana as interim co-head coaches of the Hilo football team, a trusted source told Hawaii Prep World on Monday night.
The news was also reported on BigIslandNow.com on Tuesday.
Head coach David Baldwin was placed on indefinite leave Monday for an undisclosed reason. A call to Baldwin was not returned, and Big Island Interscholastic Federation executive director Lyle Crozier did not know enough about the situation to comment Monday and did not answer when he was called Tuesday night.
BigIslandNow.com also reported on Tuesday that Baldwin’s status is under review while he is on leave.
The Vikings, the defending Big Island Interscholastic Federation champions, took a 10-0 lead into the fourth quarter against Kahuku in the first round of the Division I state tournament a year ago, but ended up losing 20-10.
Prior to the state tournament, the team was being investigated, apparently for allegedly using an ineligible player, but no wrong-doing was found. Rumors at that time that Hilo would not be eligible for the states were unfounded.
Drummondo works as a police officer in Hilo, and Pana has been involved with the Vikings as an assistant in an unofficial capacity.
Hilo will visit Oahu for its 1 p.m. season-opening game on Saturday at Punahou, the No. 3-ranked team in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Top 10. The Buffanblu opened their season last Saturday with a 49-7 win at then-No. 9 Leilehua.
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