Really, the hoopla isn't about Ron Lee showing up at Kalani High School to help coach its football team.

The lasting effect is the look on the players' faces of having the high-profiled coach on staff.

Returning quarterback Wilkins Kato and running back Jun Cho were all smiles when asked about their new and well-known assistant coach.
"Oh, yeah," Cho said of realizing exactly who was on the field teaching him and his teammates. "I'm a UH fan, so I knew (of him from) before."
Lee resigned in May as assistant at the University of Hawaii, where he coached receivers the past 11 years, the last two also as offensive coordinator. This was an unexpected windfall for a program that hasn't won a game since Aug. 20, 2004 in a non-league game against Roosevelt.

"He's been very helpful," said Kato. "Our offense is improving every day."

The offense - the run-and-shoot - isn't anything new to the Falcons, who have been running it for a while under coach Greg Taguchi. Now, the players are learning some finer points.

"It's really an honor to get coached by him," Cho said. "You understand better. It's easier."

Lee has coached players who have gone on to the NFL, made all-America in college or were all-state in high school. At Kalani, some of the players he has haven't even played Pop Warner. Totally irrelevant for the veteran coach.

"Working with guys like Ashley (Lelie), Colt (Brennan), Davone (Bess), I get the same enjoyment (with high school players)," Lee said. "I get up early and can't sleep because I want to get on over here. That's good kind of anxiety. I get up, I want to get over here. That's what I had at UH, coaching college, so this is great. We haven't played anybody, but that doesn't matter. We just gotta do the best we can."

Lee, who make daily checks on his parents who live in Aina Haina, would stop by to watch the Falcons work out over the summer. He had known Taguchi over the years because Kalani's coach had been a frequent visitor to UH practices. But the coaching bug gravitated him from the sidelines toward the field. He's just offering advice at first. Next thing, he's just flat out involved in coaching.

There's some awkwardness having an experienced and respected coach on board, so it has gone without saying that Lee is the offensive coordinator.

"I don't know if he wants a title," Taguchi said. "His title is just 'coach' ... But he's pretty much the offensive coordinator."

Lee coaches with a calm demeanor. He encourages and praises the players. When practice ends, it's not unusual for players to come up to shake his hand and thank him.

"We don't have the most experienced players, so he's very patient and takes the time to teach," Taguchi said. "It's important to them that he's patient and calm."

Because budget cuts limit the number of paid assistants, Taguchi said he is still pondering which coaches will be paid.

"I wish I could pay him a million dollars, really," Taguchi said. "I wish I could pay all my coaches a million dollars."

Lee said it's not an issue. He's just happy to be back doing what he loves.
"That's not why I do it," Lee said when asked he is a paid assistant or volunteer. "But at least I get to work with the kids. That's my reward."