The Hawai'i High School Athletic Association's executive board voted Thursday to reduce the five-year state tournament ban on Kealakehe boys soccer coach Urs Leuenberger to two years, but upheld assistant coach Miles Nakahara's ban at five years.

Leuenberger, Kealakehe principal Wil Murakami and athletic director Mike Hernandez attended yesterday's scheduled board meeting and presented their accounts of what happened at last season's state tournament, when Nakahara reportedly engaged in a verbal confrontation with tournament officials.

Nakahara was on the Mainland Thursday but submitted a written statement of his account, which was read to the board.

The board voted in April to ban Leuenberger and Nakahara for five years each, but both coaches appealed the decision, saying they never were given the opportunity to give their side of the story.

"I appreciate that there finally was due process and we were able to present our side and document what happened," Leuenberger said yesterday. "(The reduction) is something, I'm happy with it. It took courage for the board to reduce it, and it's good to see that they heard us. It's a good sign."

Leuenberger said he had not spoken to Nakahara as of late yesterday afternoon, "but I'm sure he'll be disappointed" his ban was not changed.

The ban applies only to the state tournament and according to Leuenberger, both coaches will be allowed to coach Kealakehe during the rest of the season.