David Kilpatrick-White will lead the Highlanders, after spending the past three years on the coaching staff at Bothell High School.

He replaces outgoing coach Drew Oliver, who announced at the end of February that he would leave to take the helm at his alma mater, Newport High School.

“Thanks to the hard work of coach Oliver and the dedicated staff at Hazen High School and the amazing kids, the Highlanders are on a solid foundation,” Kilpatrick-White said in a news release. “We are very excited to get to the work of becoming great under way.”

Kilpatrick-White inherits a team that went 4-2 in league last year and 5-4 overall. He has some returning talent to work with, led by star defensive back Marquise Lee, and all-league performers center Parker Trewett and quarterback Nolan Hoover.

Hazen’s new coach worked with the freshman wide receivers at Bothell, his alma mater. He graduated from the school in 2003 and played for longtime coach Tom Bainter all three years.

Before his time on the staff at Bothell, Kilpatrick-White spent two years at Ballard High School, where he was the varsity quarterback and defensive back coach.

After Oliver took over the program in 2009, Hazen returned to the state playoffs during the 2011 season for the first time since 1993. Ed Crow, Hazen assistant principal and athletic director, said Kilpatrick-White is eager to build on Oliver’s progress.

“Coach Kilpatrick-White is an excellent fit for Hazen,” he said in the news release. “His desire for his team to exhibit excellence both on the field and in the classroom is exactly what we are looking for in a head coach in all of our sports.

“He understands and embraces that his role is to be a teacher of both the game itself but more importantly be a teacher of each young man in the program. We believe he’ll be an innovator on the field and motivator of our student athletes.”

Randy Taylor

Randy Taylor will take over as Hazen High School’s interim principal for the 2013-2014 school year, replacing John Kniseley, who accepted a position at Kentwood High School.

Taylor most recently served as principal of Mount Si High School for six years, and also spent five years as the Auburn High School principal.

He holds master’s degrees in education and school administration from Central Washington University. In 2003, the Washington Library Media Association named Taylor the High School Principal of the Year.

The Association of Washington Secondary School Principals also named him the Washington State Regional Distinguished Principal in 1998 and 2009.

Pending Renton School Board approval July 17, Taylor will begin his duties immediately. His appointment will give the district time to conduct a thorough search for a permanent replacement in a process that is expected to engage staff, students and the community.

That’s not the only change to Hazen’s administration, though. Susan James will take over as the school’s new assistant principal, replacing Sam Yuhan, who accepted the principal position at Eisenhower Middle School in the Everett School District.

James most recently served as an administrative intern and English teacher at Auburn Riverside High School. She holds a master’s degree in education, curriculum and instruction. In 2009, she was named Auburn School District’s Teacher of the Year.

In June, Hazen’s dean of students Sena Camarata, announced she would be joining the staff at Skyline High School in Sammamish as an assistant principal.

Camarata also taught science at Hazen. She spent several years working as a biochemist and teaching advanced science classes.

Ed Crow, Hazen’s assistant principal, will return next year, providing experience and continuity to the school’s changing administration.