University of Hawaii lawyers are continuing to negotiate a contract that would make Norm Chow the first Asian-American head coach of a major college football program.
Members of the UH general counsel's office have been conferring with attorneys from Yee & Dubin Sports, the Los Angeles-based agents for Chow, for several hours today, according to someone familiar with the negotiations but not authorized to speak on behalf of either party until an agreement has been concluded.
The Hawaii-born Chow is of Chinese, Hawaiian and Portuguese descent.
Word that Chow has been offered the UH job spread excitement through his family for reasons beyond a Hawaii homecoming. Reportedly some members of the family broke into tears.
"I think what it is is that it would be beyond my dad (for importance)," said Maile Chow, an English teacher at Mid Pacific Institute. "'He would be the first Asian-American to ever be a head football coach in the NCAA" at a major school. "That's beyond our family, beyond my dad as a person. It is a representative of a lot of other things and so I think that is why the rest of us also feel that way."
Friends said the 65-year-old Chow wants to finish his coaching career here. He is a native of Palolo and a Punahou School graduate.
Chow currently receives $275,000 as Utah's offensive coordinator, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
Chow reportedly received a $1.2 million buyout from the Tennessee Titans, where he was offensive coordinator through 2007, and $500,000 from UCLA last year.
Chow has spent 38 years in college coaching at Brigham Young, North Carolina State, USC, UCLA and Utah but this will be his first head coaching job. He has coached three Heisman Trophy winners and been part of national championship teams at BYU and USC.
Chow beat out four other candidates. They were Universiy of Texas assistant Duane Akina, Baylor associate coach Brian Norwood, Oregon State assistant Mark Banker and Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter.
***
press conference
Norm Chow, home at last
[12/28/11] Taylor Graham transferring from Ohio State to Hawaii
*** [12/30/11]
Cal Lee, the Hawaii football team's assistant head coach, has been told he will not be retained after his contract expires March 31, 2012.
This month, Lee completed his ninth season on the Warriors' coaching staff after one of the most successful coaching careers in Hawaii high school history.
"It's awful," UH head coach Norm Chow said of his decision not to retain Lee. "We grew up together."
As a Punahou School senior, Chow worked for Lee's mother in the cafeteria. "It's very hard, but it's a business," Chow said.
In 21 years as Saint Louis School's head coach, Lee was 241-32-5, winning 14 Oahu Prep Bowl titles and the inaugural state football championship. <!- So much for aloha. I wonder what the St. Louis fans think of Chow now? -->
*** [12/31/11]
This football season, Lewis Powell was known as "the guy with the beard."
Powell, who has not shaved in a year, promises a clean start when he begins his new job as the Hawaii football team's defensive line coach on Monday.
"You have to look professional," Powell said.
Powell and Philip Rauscher — both administrative assistant coaches for Utah this season — will be part of head coach Norm Chow's first UH coaching staff. While Chow, who is coaching Utah's offense in today's Sun Bowl, will remain on the mainland for another week, Powell and Rauscher will be headed to Hawaii.
"I'm excited to go over there and get going," Rauscher said. "It's a great opportunity for Coach Chow, and I want to be there to help him out, and get everything done for him."
Powell was a Utah player and graduate assistant before moving into his current position.
"I'm leaving a good job in Utah, and hopefully I'll do a good job over there in Hawaii," Powell said.
Powell was born at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, and lived in Hawaii, Tonga and the Bay Area. He played one season of junior varsity football for McKinley High.
Powell said he relishes a chance to recruit.
Rauscher is expected to coach the tight ends, a position that was not part of the Warriors offense the past 13 seasons. Chow will implement a pro-set offense that often will feature a tight end and fullback.
"Tight end is such an important position to our offense," Rauscher said. "We have to get the right type of kid in there. If he's on the roster already, we'll fit him in there. If not, we'll recruit, and get that position going."
Rauscher, who was raised in San Diego, played on both the offensive and defensive lines at UCLA. After that, he was a student assistant and then graduate assistant at UCLA. He also served as offensive coordinator at Dixie State before returning to UCLA to work under Chow.
Rauscher praised Chow as "a great guy to work for. He cares about the kids. He's excited. I've been working with one of the best guys I've ever met."
Rauscher said he is enthusiastic about recruiting. "You have to sell yourself, and you have to sell the program," Rauscher said. "We'll go get the best kids, and go from there."
*** [1/9/12]
Hawaii head coach Norm Chow said he will retain Tony Tuioti on his football coaching staff.
"I like his work ethic, and his desire to be a coach," Chow said.
Tuioti is a former UH defensive tackle. He was hired as UH's director of player personnel in 2008, Greg McMackin's first year as UH head coach. The past two years, Tuioti coached the Warriors' defensive linemen.
McMackin reached a "release agreement" with UH on Dec. 5. Chow was hired on Dec. 22. So far, Tuioti is the only coach retained from McMackin's 2011 staff.
Chow had never worked with Tuioti, but was impressed after telephone conversations.
Chow said Tuioti received strong recommendations.
"He wants to learn," Chow said. "He works hard."
Tuioti has been an active recruiter, landing cornerback Mike Edwards, safety John Hardy-Tuliau, and defensive ends Craig Cofer and Tavita Woodard.
Tuioti has been helpful in acclimating newly hired assistant coaches Phil Rauscher and Lewis Powell.
*** [1/10/12]
New University of Hawaii head football coach Norm Chow added four more assistant coaches to his coaching staff with the announcement of offensive assistants Tommy Lee, Keith Uperesa, and Chris Wiesehan and defensive assistant Daronte’ Jones.
Chow’s staff now includes seven assistant coaches. Earlier this week, Chow announced the addition of offensive assistant Philip Rauscher and defensive assistants Lewis Powell and Tony Tuioti.
Chow is expected to fill the remaining two vacancies, which includes the defensive coordinator position, in the next week.
“This group of coaches have years of experience at every level of football,” Chow said. “Our players will be able to learn from the very best in the business. They have proven track records and have been successful everywhere they’ve been. We’re very fortunate to have them.”
Lee, born and raised in Honolulu, is the older brother of Ron and Cal Lee, both former UH coaches. Cal Lee was not retained from last year's UH staff.
Uperesa spent the past two seasons as the offensive line coach at Nicholls State. The Punahou and Brigham Young alum coached the line at UNLV, Utah, USC, and was offensive coordinator at Idaho State.
Wiesehan and Jones coached in the Canadian Football League last season.
[1/12/12] Norm Chow at the Hukilau
[1/13/12] Players meet the coach
[1/15/12] Benny Fonua
[1/17/12] Clark Evans, TE
[1/17/12] Inoke Funake retained as graduate assistant
[1/18/12] Chris Demerest completes staff
[1/19/12] John Ursua
[1/23/12] Ethan Watanabe
[1/23/12] Shane Brostek is still open
[2/1/12] Warriors get 20 oral commits (2 out of top 10)
[2/1/12] Mike Milovale taught the Haka dance in music class
[2/2/12] Norm Chow comments on the recruiting class
[2/8/12] Quenton Brown, defensive end
[2/9/12] Nick Rolovich joining Nevada staff / future head coach?
[2/9/12] Marrell Jackson, safety
Coach Profiles
Thom Kaumeyer (linebacker)
Lewis Powell (defensive line)
Daronte Jones (defensive backs)
Chris Demarest (special teams)
Phil Rauscher (tight ends)
Tommy Lee (receivers)
Chris Wiesehan (offensive line)
Keith Uperesa (running backs)
Norm Chow (head coach, quarterbacks)
[8/31/12] The New Look Warriors
[9/1/12] Norm Chow Returns to the Coliseum Saturday to Make History
[9/1/12] Hawaii 10, USC 49
[9/27/12] Memories of Provo
No comments:
Post a Comment