Kapaa High School’s varsity football head coach Philip Rapozo was in attendance for the annual Motiv8 Foundation Golf Tournament on Monday.
The Motiv8 Foundation is a philanthropic organization spearheaded by Oahu native and Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota.
“It’s a big golf tournament. It was fun,” Rapozo said Tuesday. “It was at the (Oahu Country Club). Awesome place. Just unbelievable. It was a great experience, that’s for sure.”
But he wasn’t there to show off his golf swing.
“I don’t like embarrass Kapaa High School,” he said jokingly.
Rapozo was a finalist for Motiv8’s inaugural Ardel Deppe Community Football Coaches Award. The accolade aims to recognize football coaches who are not only successful on the gridiron, but also who work to be community leaders.
To qualify for the award, a candidate must have held their position for at least 2-3 years and have a positive attitude. Coaches from the high school level down to Pop Warner and youth, and even flag football, can be nominated.
Rapozo has been the head coach for the Warriors program for the past four seasons. With Rapozo at the helm, the school has won three Kauai Interscholastic Federation football championships and was twice the runner-up in the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II state tournament.
“My usual reaction, ‘Why me?’ There’s so much good coaches out there — guys with big names in the state,” Rapozo said. “Then again, I’m blessed. It’s a great opportunity, to go and meet people.”
Rapozo, though, didn’t win the top prize.
Eddie Klaneski, varsity football head coach at Damien Memorial School in Honolulu, was named the winner. Rapozo finished as a finalist along with Sean Lorenzo, coach of Hawaii Kai Dolphins Pop Warner.
The Ardel Deppe award is named after Mariota’s late grandfather, who was a resident of Kauai along with his wife. Also, Rapozo said Mariota’s mother is an alumna of Kapaa High School.
“It meant a lot. The granddad is a well-known person in our community. A good man,” Rapozo said. “Just that being from our island, and it being the first annual, that was awesome.”
As finalists, Rapozo and Lorenzo each was awarded a $2,500 allowance for football equipment from manufacturer Riddell. Klaneski won $5,000 as the award winner.
“We’re probably going to buy some helmets,” Rapozo said of the prize. “Every year, we buy as much as we can afford. Once they reach 10 years old, you cannot use them already. … It has to be refurbished every other year. We do it every year at Kapaa. After 10 seasons, the helmet is obsolete.”
The Warriors head coach had the chance to speak with Mariota at the golf event.
Though Mariota is probably the one of, if not the, most famous football players in Hawaii, Rapozo said the former Saint Louis School and University of Oregon standout is as modest as ever.
“Marcus is awesome. For the star that he is, you would never know. The guy is so humble. I’m still in awe,” he said. “I know the mom. She’s a Kapaa High grad. When you sit down and talk with the parents and the brother and him, you understand why he’s so humble. … You know how much he respects his parents and how hard they work, the family.”
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
