Kalani High School administrators told their girls basketball parents last night that adjustments will be made in the process of hiring all coaches next school year, in the aftermath of confusing and sudden changes in the past three weeks that resulted in popular and successful coach Darold Imanaka being replaced.

Falcons athletic director Greg Van Cantfort, acknowledging that the recent process "was cumbersome" and "a nightmare," said department-wide coaching evaluations will be spread out throughout the year from now on, and active coaches who receive a positive evaluation most likely will be allowed to retain their jobs without going through another application process.

Three weeks ago, Van Cantfort opened up coaching positions in all sports, and all applicants — including active coaches — were required to go through the application process.

They ultimately were asked to submit resumes, which were due within five days.

"What was done this year is what was supposed to be done (in the past)," said Van Cantfort, speaking to a group of about 20 parents last night at the school's library. "But it was cumbersome to do all of it at the end of the year."

Imanaka, who guided Kalani to the 2006 Division II state championship, did not submit a resume, though Van Cantfort and principal Gerald Teramae said he was aware that one was required.

But Imanaka, speaking by phone from the Mainland last night, said the instructions were not made clear to him.

He acknowledges receiving the message about submitting a resume on May 24, but said he questioned Teramae about it the next day and was told to "wait for further instructions." Imanaka said he never heard back from any of the Kalani administrators after that.

"I wanted to know, 'Why only me?' because other coaches told me they never (were asked to submit) a resume," Imanaka said. "I went to Gerald's office and waited to see him, but he was in a meeting with (Van Cantfort) and so he told me to wait for further instructions. But I never got called."

At last night's meeting, Teramae said he told Imanaka to "wait for further instructions" on May 21. He added that assistant athletic director Amy Tong left a message for Imanaka after the morning of May 25, reminding him to turn in his resume, but Imanaka said he never received it.

"If everybody has to do it (turn in a resume), then I would have done it," Imanaka said. "I want to clear my name, because people are saying I didn't turn it in because I was arrogant. But I just took a coaches' accreditation course (a couple months ago), so why would I do that if I didn't plan to continue coaching?"

Van Cantfort said next school year, he plans to conduct evaluation meetings with every head coach after their respective seasons (fall, winter, spring). He said if the evaluation is positive, the coach most likely will be asked to return without needing to re-apply.

"The feedback I got from coaches is that they asked, 'How do I plan (for the offseason) if I don't know if I'll be asked to come back?' " Van Cantfort said. "We'll evaluate our process and try to improve on it, given how this year was a nightmare."

George Weeks was named as the new girls basketball coach on June 4.

Teramae and Van Cantfort acknowledged that many of the parent concerns were due to a lack of proper communication.

"The communication wasn't there," said David Liao, whose daughter will be a junior this fall. "There were a lot of rumors, so we came to verify things. If they are more open, then it will be less confusing."

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.