Sam Mailou has taken over the Kellogg High School football program with a mission to transform a team that has struggled in recent years. The 35-year-old arrived in the Silver Valley this week after serving as an assistant coach at Waianae High School on Oahu, Hawaii — a move that carried him nearly 2,700 miles from the Pacific Islands to Idaho’s mining country.
Mailou brings his first head coaching job to a program that compiled an 8-18 record over the past three seasons. The Kellogg football roster has also shrunk, averaging around 25 players annually, though early signs suggest renewed interest. When voluntary summer workouts began this week, 16 players showed up on Wednesday and 18 on Thursday, indicating growing momentum as the season approaches.
Building the Coaching Staff
Mailou assembled his coaching staff with a mix of continuity and new talent. Dave Carlile remains in place as offensive coordinator, providing institutional knowledge to the program. The new head coach brought in Moses McAninch as defensive coordinator and Elijah Gordon as strength and conditioning coach and defensive backs coach, shaping a coaching structure designed to address both sides of the ball.
Beyond coaching, Mailou accepted a teaching position in physical education at Kellogg High School, integrating himself into the broader school community. The appointment signals the district’s commitment to the program and positions Mailou as more than a part-time coach invested in a single sport.
A Philosophy Rooted in Work Ethic
Mailou has made clear his expectations for the team moving forward. “We’re going to be the hardest working team on the field. We’re going to bust our butts every day. No one is going to outwork us,” he said in remarks about his vision for the Kellogg program.
Discipline and accountability also form the foundation of his coaching approach. “I’m a stickler for the rules. If you want things to go the right way, you have to do them the right way,” Mailou explained, outlining a structured environment designed to build winning habits off and on the field.
For a program that has endured recent losing seasons, Mailou’s arrival represents a fresh start and a chance to reverse the trajectory. His background in Hawaii, while geographically distant from Idaho’s culture, demonstrates an openness to coaches willing to relocate for opportunity and a belief that Kellogg offers a genuine platform for success.
What Comes Next
The Kellogg football season opens on August 21 at home against Bonners Ferry. The matchup will provide the first test of Mailou’s system and his ability to unite a young roster under a new coaching regime. With voluntary workouts already underway and the regular season less than five weeks away, the program faces a compressed timeline to build cohesion and install offensive and defensive schemes.
The challenge ahead is substantial—rebuilding roster size, establishing a winning culture, and competing in a challenging classification. But the early attendance at summer workouts and the evident commitment of the coaching staff suggest Kellogg football is moving in a new direction under Mailou’s leadership.
Community support for local school sports has long been a hallmark of the Silver Valley, from the Wallace Music Fest and other regional events that draw the region together, to programs like the SilverHoops Tournament, which demonstrates the value residents place on youth athletics and competition.