Sterling Carvalho is out as the head coach of the Kahuku football team.
News of Carvalho's ouster was first reported by the Honolulu-Star Advertiser's Billy Hull.
In a letter to Kahuku parents and students, Kahuku High School principal Donna Lindsey wrote in part that "plans are in place to ensure continued support and stability for out student-athletes and football program. An interim head coach will be assigned while we begin the process of selecting a new head coach."
A reason was not provided for Carvalho's departure from the Kahuku football program in the letter.
Carvalho, who also serves a bishop when he is not coaching, was named head coach for the Kahuku football team in January 2018 following stints as the team's offensive coordinator, as well as the head coach of the junior varsity team. He replaced Makoa Fretias, who went 11-2 as the program's interim head coach after Vavae Tata's exit in February 2017.
In six full seasons at the helm, Carvalho went 59-18, leading the Red Raiders to the HHSAA Open Division championship game in each of his last five seasons.
After the 2020 high school season was wiped out due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Carvalho turned Kahuku into a dominant force in the Hawai‘i prep football scene, leading the Red Raiders to three straight state titles, something that had previously never been done in the program's storied history.
Carvalho's signature win as Kahuku's head coach came on Sept. 16, 2023, when the Red Raiders stunned defending national champion St. John Bosco of California 30-23.
Kahuku's quest for a fourth straight state title was halted with a 17-10 loss to Saint Louis in the 2024 HHSAA Open Division championship game last November.
Carvalho's twin brother, Stewart, served as Kahuku's special teams coordinator during Sterling's tenure with the team.
Sterling Carvalho coached the Hawai‘i consensus Player of the Year for consecutive years in Kainoa "Kaikai" Carvalho, Stewart's son, in 2021, followed by Liona Lefau in 2022. Kainoa Carvalho will join the University of Hawai‘i football team in the summer following a church mission, while Lefau is a third-year linebacker at the University of Texas.
Sterling Carvalho and Lindsey did not respond to messages from Aloha State Daily requesting comment on Wednesday.
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
