Thursday, December 08, 2011

Hawaii football coach search

At least five former University of Hawaii football players reportedly have expressed interest in the Warriors' head coaching job.

The position was vacated when Greg McMackin reached a retirement agreement on Sunday.

UH interim head coach Rich Miano, Navy offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper, Baylor associate head coach Brian Norwood, Baylor special teams coordinator/receivers coach Dino Babers and Georgia Tech receivers coach Buzz Preston have emerged as possible candidates, according to people familiar with the situation.

As of Wednesday, athletic director Jim Donovan received about a dozen telephone calls and a dozen emails from potential applicants. It is not known how many inquiries were made to the school's human resources department.

Jerry Glanville, a former UH defensive coordinator who was head coach of the NFL's Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons, said he has applied.

"I love the people and the state," Glanville said.

Earlier this year, Glanville was named head coach of the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League. But the Colonials folded before the 2011 season started.

A family member said Texas assistant coach Duane Akina, a Punahou School graduate, is interested in applying.

Utah offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who has run offenses in the NFL and elite college programs, reportedly is interested. Chow, who was raised in Hawaii, did not return messages left on his cell phone.

Oregon State line coach Mike Cavanaugh, who was an assistant coach at UH, was in Hawaii Tuesday after a recruiting trip to American Samoa. Asked if he would be a candidate, Cavanaugh, who has already returned to Oregon, said, "I have two words: ‘No comment.' "

Jasper was a UH quarterback and graduate assistant. After a stint at Georgia Southern, he has been at the Naval Academy for 12 years — the past 10 as quarterbacks coach, including the past four as offensive coordinator.

"He's more than ready to be a head coach," said Navy head coach Kenny Niumatalolo, a former UH quarterback and coach.

Norwood, a Radford High graduate and former UH defensive back, is finishing his fourth season at Baylor. He was the Bears' defensive coordinator for three years before being promoted to associate head coach.

Babers, a former UH linebacker and running back, was assistant head coach at UCLA and offensive coordinator at Arizona and Texas A&M before joining Baylor.

Preston, a former UH receiver, works under Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson, a former UH offensive coordinator.

Preston, a former UH receiver, works under Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson, a former UH offensive coordinator.

Hawaii News Now video: UH search committee formed to find new head coach

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Three more coaching candidates: Mark Banker, George Rush, George Lumpkin

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Kenny Niumatalolo heads Dave Reardon's fantasy football staff

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