HONOLULU -- The Occidental football team is gearing up for its neutral site game against Pacific (Ore.) at Kamehameha HS in Honolulu on Saturday at 5 pm (HST). It is believed to be the first ever NCAA Division III football game played on the islands and the first time Oxy football has been to Hawaii since making a five-day ocean voyage to play Hawaii in the 1920s.
Oxy's current coaching staff is heavily rooted in Hawaiian culture. Head coach Doug Semones lived on the North Shore for 18 years. He won four OIA Championships and went 68-14-2 in seven seasons as the head coach (1989-95) at Kahuku HS in Hawaii and later had a three-year stint as the special teams coordinator and defensive line coach at the University of Hawaii from 1996-98. Shortly after his tenure with Hawaii, he was the defensive and special teams coordinator for the Hawaiian Islanders of the Arena Football League.
Oxy offensive coordinator Darnell Arceneaux is a local legend and former Oxy offensive coordinator Brian Smith is now the offensive coordinator at Hawaii.
Arceneaux began in 2003 as the head football coach of Saint Louis HS in Honolulu where he led his team to a 9-2 record, an ILH championship and a 2nd place finish in the state finals. He then became the offensive coordinator at Mililani HS in 2006 and the head coach from 2007-2010. In 2010 he returned to Saint Louis as the head coach and assistant athletic director. During his second stint at Saint Louis is when he mentored Mariota. He led that 2010 team to the State Championships and a 12-1 record and earned Hawaii's Coach of the Year awards from MaxPreps and the ILH. In 2012 he earned HS coach of the year from the NFL Pro Bowl.
He also enjoyed a decorated high school career. In 1995, he was the Hawaii Athlete of the Year (Honolulu Quarterback Club), Hawaii Offensive Player of the Year, was the nation's 14th ranked quarterback, and was first-team all-state quarterback (an honor he also received in '94). He was also all-state basketball player in 1995-96 and led St. Louis to three state prep bowl championships and two IHL basketball championships.
Here's some coverage of the game building up to kickoff:
Coach Semones on ESPNMaui.com with Kanoa Lahey and Oxy alumnus Jordan Helle
Coach Semones on ESPN 1420 on the Bobby Curran Show
Hawaiiprepworld.com Story about Semones' history coaching in Hawaii
Hawaiitribune-herold.com story
newsofhawaii.com story
Pacific Story on Oregonlive.com
oxy.edu - Oxy Athletics current and past connection to Hawaii
