During the first week of December, Juanita High administrators and athletic director Jason Thurston decided to make a varsity football head coaching leadership change for next season, according to the Lake Washington School District.

Head coach Lele Te’o led the Rebels for four seasons and compiled a record of 18-23 overall and 9-12 in league. He was named 3A KingCo coach of the year in 2017.

“All Lake Washington School District coaches work under seasonal contracts and are reviewed on a yearly basis for continued employment. Decisions to hire and retain coaches are made at the school level,” the district said in an email to the Reporter and added that they notified parents and students of the change.

Te’o, who couldn’t be reached for a comment at post time, wrote, in part, on his Twitter page that he’s been blessed by his players and fellow coaches and he thanked the Rebels for believing in something bigger than themselves and in the coaches. He’s proud of every player and blessed with the lessons and impact they’ve had in his life.

Juanita High football parent Prerna Gupta praised Te’o in an email to the Reporter: “It takes a village to raise a child and for majority of the kids coming out of that program, Coach Lele was by default a part of that village. Lele was influential in helping kids learn about themselves, teamwork and overcome obstacles on and off the field. He taught them the importance of working hard not only in a weight room but also the classroom, which will give them results that far exceed a scoreboard.”

The school and district are searching for a new coach and a notice for the position is posted at https://tinyurl.com/ydxdl4th