HONOLULU — The University of Hawaiʻi athletic department and the broader Island sports community are mourning the passing of Don "Spud" Botelho, a 2000 UH Sports Circle of Honor inductee whose career as a player, coach, and administrator spanned more than half a century.  Botelho passed away on Saturday, April 25 at the age of 93.

A versatile standout for the Rainbows from 1954 to 1957, Botelho was a cornerstone of the program during some of its most historic milestones. As a multi-position athlete, he served as a quarterback, running back, punter, and placekicker.  

Botelho is perhaps best remembered  for his role in the 1955 squad that traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska. Coming in as 50-point underdogs, the Rainbows pulled off a 6-0 shutout upset over the Cornhuskers—a victory still cited as one of the greatest upsets in program history.  His name remains etched in the university's record books for one of the most explosive plays in school history: a 95-yard touchdown pass to receiver Colin Chock against Willamette in 1957. It remains the longest pass play in the history of Hawaiʻi football.  

Following his graduation, Botelho transitioned into coaching, serving as an assistant at UH from 1960 to 1964. During this critical period, he worked under head coaches Hank Vasconcellos and Jim Asato, helping to stabilize and grow the program during its transition into the modern era of college football.  

While his roots were at UH, Botelho became a legendary figure in Hawaiʻi's high school ranks. He was the architect of the Pac-Five "Wolfpack" program, leading them to two Prep Bowl titles (1982, '85). Botelho was named Interscholastic League of Honolulu Coach of the Year four times and was a two-time State Coach of the Year. He served as athletic director at Damien Memorial and Mid-Pacific Institute, and later as the executive Director of the ILH, serving as a vital and impactful figure throughout the years in local high school athletics. 

In 2000, Botelho took his rightful place in the UH Circle of Honor. "When you look at the qualifications for [the Circle of Honor], it means that you did something to influence people's lives, not that you were just good in athletics," Botelho said during his induction. "That means more than all the other accolades I've received." 

Botelho's legacy is carried on by the countless student-athletes he mentored as he remains a symbol of the "local boy" success story, bridging the gap between the University of Hawaiʻi and the community it serves.