Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A graduate of Fagaitua High School- Class of 2003, Lewis "Coach Saynt” Amituanai is coming off a highly successful football season at Alaska’s Dimond High School, which ended a 23-year drought with a state championship. He served as the JV defensive coordinator and varsity assistant coach for the winning team.

Coach Saynt in a recent biographical essay he sent via email to Samoa News, wrote he would like to extend his gratitude to his family, particularly his wife Joan, and kids, mom and dad, Peneueta and Bishop Fomai Amituanai of Aua, brother Murphy Tanuvasa and his wife, brother DOC and his family, uncle Setefano luafulu and the entire Amituanai family, for their unwavering support.

He also acknowledges the accomplishments of his son, Darin Tei (#44), and the exceptional talent of Dimond High School's #1 QB/DB Cayden Pili, who won MVP and MaxPreps Alaska High School Football Player of the Year in 2024.

Cayden Pili, according to Coach Saynt, is of sports royalty in Alaska where his older sister is Alyssa Pili who plays for Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA and his older brother Brandon Pili, who was playing for the Miami Dolphins and has been traded to the Seattle Seahawks.

He would also like to acknowledge coach Vatau Vatau, who was with the program prior to his arrival.

According to Lewis ‘Coach Saynt’, also known as Uso Saynt, he is a musician, athlete, and coach from Aua and Anchorage, Alaska.

He is the founder and lead singer of the acclaimed music group "Ava Boyz," which was established in Anchorage Alaska in 2011. He said he has entertained audiences with hits like "Aumaia Lou Alofa Remixx" and "Faiilagi le Folauga." His recent collaborations with notable artists, include Mr. Unknown ("Home") and Jay Shootah ("We Did It"), further cementing his musical reputation.

The 2003 FHS graduate credits his high school coach and mentor, Coach Suaese Pooch Taase, for inspiring his passion for coaching and sports. According to Saynt, “this mentorship sparked a competitive drive that has propelled his successful coaching career, spanning over 15 years and multiple sports, including American football, volleyball, basketball, and rugby.”

Coach Saynt’s achievements include coaching the girls' volleyball at Bartlett High School from 2009 to 2012 and co-founded the "907 Brothers" men's rugby club in 2015. In 2021, he led the men's volleyball team in Alaska tournaments.

His most recent accomplishment was serving as the JV defensive coordinator and varsity assistant coach at Dimond High School, contributing to their 11-0 season and Alaska state championship title that ended a 23-year drought.

Alaska’s Dimond High School football team, ended a 23-year drought in 2024, winning with an 11-0 season and the Alaska state championship title. [Courtesy photo]

Saynt says “despite his successes in Alaska, his ultimate goal remains becoming the head coach of Fagaitua High School's football program in American Samoa.”

He notes that when the COVID pandemic hit, he moved back to American Samoa to visit his parents and see if moving back was a good move for he and his family. And while he did work as DHS- EOC supervisor his real passion was to apply to be the head coach at FHS. Unfortunately, it did not work out and he moved back to Alaska, and joined the coaching staff at Dimond High School.