‘He’s in shock’: Attorney says complaint by former player led to Kahuku coach’s dismissal

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A week after the sudden firing of Sterling Carvalho as Kahuku head football coach, Hawaii News Now has learned his dismissal stems from a complaint filed by the family of a former player.

Carvalho has since hired prominent attorney Michael Green to help clear his name.

Green says Carvalho’s abrupt firing stems from a single complaint filed with the Hawaii State Department of Education by the father of a former player more than a year ago.

The grievance led state education officials to investigate while Carvalho still coached a full season for the Red Raiders.

“He’s investigated for conduct violations, policy violations that he created a hostile environment for this kid,” Green said. “It’s insane, but try telling some other high school that if he wants to go there.”

Green says the complaint stems from the player’s playing time and considers the investigation flawed because it didn’t gather input from Carvalho’s staff, parents of other players, or Kahuku’s athletics director.

He also says the allegations are out of Carvalho’s character.

“Parents are outraged and the kids are all there. One guy says, you know, he doesn’t even swear,” Green said. “I think you have to sign something if you want to be a football coach, you gotta swear a couple times a day. Not this guy. He’s in shock.”

Carvalho’s former players and members of the North Shore community gathered Monday night to share their thoughts on Carvalho’s dismissal, trying to find ways to have him reinstated.

They say allegations of a hostile environment are completely false.

“I’ve come from hostile programs myself and this is nowhere near that,” said Kahuku quarterback Matai Fuiava, who joined the Red Raiders last season after transferring from St. John Bosco in California. “There’s nothing but love between everyone, not even just Coach Sterling, but all the coaches on staff.”

When asked for a response, the HIDOE said it cannot comment on active or threatened litigation.

But Green says Carvalho isn’t interested in filing a lawsuit.

“He just wants to be able to coach again. That’s his whole life,” Green said.

“I think they (the HIDOE) owe him something,” Green said. “There should be a reckoning against this father. This coach is not interested in that kind of stuff and that speaks to the man. He just wants his reputation back.”