Sterling Carvalho is the new Saint Louis football coach.
Following a months-long coaching search, Carvalho emerged as the top choice for Saint Louis School president and CEO Glenn Medeiros. The school is set to make a formal announcement on Tuesday afternoon.
"I'm just excited," Carvalho told Aloha State Daily. "I'm excited to carry on the tradition and legacy of Saint Louis football."
In mid-September, Saint Louis parted ways with former head coach Tupu Alualu, beginning the search for its next coach shortly after.
Carvalho was formerly the head coach of Kahuku from the 2018 to 2024 seasons, leading the Red Raiders to their first HHSAA state championship three-peat from 2021 to 2023. He was removed from the position in the spring of 2025, stemming from a complaint from a former player. Carvalho fought for his right to continue to coach the Red Raiders, making multiple court appearances in the summer of 2025. His motion to continue coaching the team was denied by O‘ahu Circuit Court Judge Jordon J. Kimura right before the 2025 high school football season.
Since then, Carvalho latched on as the head coach for the American Samoa men's flag football national team, leading the team to a historic win over the United States on Aug. 14 in Germany. Carvalho previously said that if he were to take a high school football coaching job, he would also continue his pursuit to lead American Samoa to a 2028 Olympic bid.
Carvalho, a native of Kaua‘i, coached at Kahuku for over a decade prior to becoming varsity head coach in 2018. He is 3-2 in HHSAA Open Division title games, with both losses against Saint Louis in 2018 and 2024. Meanwhile, his first state title as varsity head coach was a 49-14 victory over the Crusaders in 2021.
After coaching the tradition-rich Red Raiders, Carvalho takes over the most storied high school football program in Hawai‘i history. The Crusaders have a combined 22 Hawai‘i state championships and Prep Bowl titles, more than any other team in the state.
In 2026, the Crusaders went 1-8, including 1-3 in ILH play. Their nonconference included losses to Kahuku and Mililani, as well as national powers IMG Academy, Sierra Canyon and St. John Bosco. After starting 0-4, Leonard Lau took over as interim head coach. The search for the the permanent head coach followed, leading to Carvalho.
"I'm just grateful for the administration and the whole process that they went through in hiring me," Carvalho said. "I'll put together a staff, and once I get that, we'll be running. So, I'm excited for that. The whole process, we're just trying to do what is the best and the right thing for the Men of Kalaepohaku."
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
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