Change is in the air for the Maui football team this fall.

After capturing their first league title in more than a decade last season, the Sabers will have a new look on several fronts in 2015. The most notable change is at the top, where longtime assistant Keith Shirota takes over as head coach after the resignation of David Bui in the offseason.

Shirota, a 1984 graduate of Maui High, ascends to the top position after a one-year hiatus due to personal reasons. Prior to that, he spent the last 24 years coaching at his alma mater. The physical education teacher was defensive coordinator for four years prior to the 2014 season.

Now, Shirota, who has four children and four grandchildren, assumes his first head coaching job.

"I've always had aspirations of becoming a head coach, but the timing wasn't right because my kids were younger and with what happened to coach Bui, I decided this was my time to step up and take a shot so I have no regrets later on," Shirota said. "To be honest, overwhelming, but I like the challenge. I'm up for it and we'll see what happens at the end of the season. I'm looking forward to the season."

Senior quarterback Austin Hoe said there is familiarity with Shirota.

"For me, I think coach Shirota is a much better coach for me," Hoe said. "He's more disciplined, plus I knew him a long time. He coached with us before. He was the (defensive coordinator) my sophomore year, so we all get along."

Senior defensive back Nathan Vierra said liked the decision to hire Shirota.

"I was excited, because I always liked coach Shirota since he's the one that brought me up (to varsity) my sophomore year, so I was just ready to go," Vierra said. "I kind of knew how he was like having played with him before."

Vierra concurred with Hoe's assessment of Shirota's no-nonsense approach.

"Coach Shirota is strict and it's a good style because no one can really play around as much and he doesn't deal with people not coming to practice," Vierra said. "If you don't practice, you can't play."

Before officially accepting the job, Shirota said he sat down with his family to discuss the opportunity.

"I had to get my wife's approval first, of course, and get my family's support before I made a decision and fortunately I did and I took the job," Shirota laughed.

Since taking over the job, Shirota said he's been overwhelmed by the number of people who have reached out to him and wished him well.

"The support has been great. The parent support has been even greater and that's, I think, key," Shirota said. "Hopefully they buy in, a lot of them, and help us in any way that they can. As far as the staff and community, I've got a lot of friends cheering us on, because they know I've been here a long time and they're excited."

The changes aren't limited to personnel; The Sabers will go from a run-heavy attack — they threw for just under 50 yards and rushed for nearly 290 yards per game — to a spread offense.

"It's a whole new system," said Hoe who threw for 461 yards and three touchdowns last season. "We're all getting used to it, all new plays. The spread for me is just a much better look for our team, our offense."

Among the additions are former Honokaa, University of Hawaii and St. Louis Rams' offensive lineman Kaulana Noa as the new offensive coordinator. However, the losses are plentiful, including running backs Daniel Kelley (transferred) and Onosai Emelio (graduated), who combined for 165 carries, 1,305 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns last year, as well as highly-touted tight end Tristan Nichols, who transferred to Saint Louis late in the summer.

"It really hurts me, but we're all family, we're all friends," Hoe said of the transfers. "It comes to a point later in high school when it just matters for your future, based on better schools, recruiting, and going to college, so it's just really up to them. I mean, it hurts, but we all stay in touch."

The defense, under first-year coordinator Kamalani Vainikolo, is also changing schemes to a 3-4 front.

"We're just working on new plays because we have a new staff and it's a different defense so we just have to get in a groove," Vierra said."The hardest part is the plays and coverages are all different and it's just confusing a little bit with the formations and knowing where to line up."

Shirota said his team is coming along nicely, but still has some question marks heading into the season.

"Can we execute our game plan?," Shirota said. "that's what we're preaching. We line them up, they know what to do, but they need to execute. Everybody needs to know their assignment and carry it out."

However, Shirota refuses to measure success off wins and losses alone.

"What I told them in the very beginning is that it's about integrity and character first and foremost. I want the kids to leave our program with something more than just football and if they're better kids when they leave us, that's what I'll be most proud of," Shirota said. "Football is great. We want to win a championship, but having them leave our program as better kids, better players, better community member is more important to me."

- Kalani Takase