LIHU'E, Kaua'i — League-winning Kaua'i High School football coach Christian Keli'i Morgado filed suit in 5th Circuit Court yesterday to protest the Department of Education's refusal to rehire him for the coming football season.

Instead, the school named junior varsity coach Derek Borrero as head varsity coach. The DOE has not commented publicly about the situation.

Morgado, whose football teams have dominated the Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation in recent years, was the only person to apply for the coach's job and said he was told he would be given the position, then later told he would not be offered the job.

"They told me there were numerous complaints" about his coaching, Morgado said, but he said he was not told what the complaints were nor given an opportunity to address them.

Players' parents have petitioned the school to retain Morgado, and Morgado said he believes 90 percent of players' parents want him to coach their children, and many feel that players' chances of getting into good colleges depend on a successful football program.

"The ones who are serious use athletics as a vehicle to get into college," Morgado said.

His attorney, Eric Seitz, said his lawsuit demands the school either reinstate Morgado or reopen the position and implement a "fair and objective" selection process.

Morgado, a history teacher at the school, said it might be uncomfortable to coach the team because of hard feelings between him and the administration, but he believes he can perform.

"The players and the parents have been loud and clear. The vast majority want me there. It's about the kids," he said.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.