That would be his son, Zach, a senior linebacker from Punahou who will suit up for the West squad in tonight's 21st Annual Hawai'i Union Builders Goodwill Senior Bowl. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Radford's John Velasco Stadium.

Hernandez is the West's linebackers coach, though that took some time to sink in.

"I was kind of in a daze, sometimes I caught myself just watching him instead of coaching," Darren said after Monday's first practice at Radford. "When (West head coach) Fred Salanoa called me to say my son was selected to play in the HUB game, I was floored. Then he asked if I would coach the linebackers. Knowing this is his last high school game, it's real special. It's an unreal chance for both of us."

Although it will represent their first time on the same team, father and son have been bonded by football from the beginning.

"I was already coaching at Campbell when he was born, and by the time he was four years old, he was crazy about football," Hernandez said. "He was coming onto the field, running around with a football in his hand."

Zach's first games consisted of "knee football" at home before bedtime.

"I bought him a Hutch helmet and pads, and we would play 'knee football' on a roll-out mat every night," Hernandez said. "I would always win, but he was competitive -- he played hard and would get all sweaty."

Zach later joined youth football teams in Pearl City and Manoa before enrolling at Punahou and playing there. He blossomed this past season, growing physically and mentally to help the Buffanblu win the Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship. His 20-yard interception return for a touchdown with two minutes remaining in the regular season finale vs. Saint Louis helped seal a 31-19 victory that forced a one-game, winner-take-all playoff against Kamehameha.

Punahou eventually advanced to the state title game against Kahuku, but lost 30-24.

This week's West practices have helped ease the pain from that narrow defeat.

"This is definitely one of the best ways to end my senior season," Zach said. "Even though we lost to Kahuku ... I never thought I would get a chance to play for my dad. I owe him everything, especially football-wise."

This is not the first time father and son have shared football insight.

"We talk about it every day," Zach said. "We look at my game film and break it down, then we look at his film and break it down. Football is a big part of our life."

And it will continue to be, as Zach hopes to play in college. He has received interest from Brown, Georgetown, San Diego and Duke.

Zach also is the reigning state wrestling champion at 191 pounds, but "football is his first love," Darren said.

The two are cherishing this week of bonding, especially since Darren missed watching all but one of Punahou's first six games this season while busy coaching Kapolei.

"That was really hard," Darren said. "I had to fly to San Diego (for the Buffanblu's game against Vista) just to watch him play."

Although tonight will be the first and probably last time Hernandez will coach his son, there are many football games for them to share in the future.

"We play each other on Madden and NCAA," he said.