Since the midway point of last season, several changes have impacted the Warrior football team, from the coaches and players, to the return of an old (fun) offensive scheme.
In early October, offensive line coach Chris Naeole resigned. His only known public comments to date on the matter, reportedly through an attorney, cited “certain philosophical differences” as a reason for his departure. Naeole, one of the few coaches Nick Rolovich retained from Norm Chow’s staff, was instrumental in cross-training the offensive line. The Warriors needed that added flexibility after injuries to several linemen required the remaining players to temporarily switch positions.
A week before Christmas, defensive coordinator Legi Suiaunoa and receivers coach Kefense Hynson accepted coaching positions at Oregon State. Both were hired as part of Rolo’s original staff.
Suiaunoa was UH’s defensive line coach in 2016, then became DC in 2017 after Kevin Lempa left for a senior defensive analyst’s role at Michigan. Suiaunoa kept the 4-3 base defense, but the inability for the linemen to consistently pressure the opposing QB further exposed the weaknesses in the secondary.
Hynson helped land a few recruits for UH, such as Akil Francisco and Drake Stallworth. However, both redshirted last season. Hynson also may have been key in getting Brandon Kipper to transfer to the Beavers. There’s not much more to say about Hynson; UH’s receivers had few big plays. When John Ursua and Tui Unga went down with injuries in 2017, the offense largely went with it.
In late December, Sean Duggan was not retained as linebackers coach. Duggan and Lempa were lured away as a package deal from Boston College. At the time, the Eagles had the nation’s top total defense with Duggan working as a grad assistant. I was surprised that Rolovich kept Duggan aboard as a full-time assistant after Lempa left. Although Duggan as a younger coach could relate more to the players, having just recently finished his own college career, he did not have the coaching experience. Duggan is now the linebackers coach at UMass, who UH has (barely) beaten the past two seasons.
Just a few days ago, special teams coordinator Mayur Chaudhari accepted a position with the Atlanta Falcons. Chaudhari, the son-in-law of former UH coach Dick Tomey, also coached the Warrior tight ends in 2016 and defensive ends in 2017. Unlike the other coaches, Chaudhari did not play football, working his way up the chain from a video coordinator at UC Davis in the late 1990s. On special teams, Chaudhari would encourage the kicker to pin the returner in the corner at the goal line, reasoning that the returner would then have a lower probability of making it back to the 20-yard line if the rest of the kickoff team did its job. With Rigoberto Sanchez (now a punter with the Indianapolis Colts) doing the kickoffs in 2016, the formula worked respectably. In 2017, however, the kickoffs were largely short, giving the opposing team field position beyond the 20 most times. The Warriors did block nine kicks in Chaudhari’s time there, but it also helps when you have 6’7″ Viane Moala in the middle of all that. Moala has four of the nine blocks (three on FGs, one on a PAT that was returned for two points).
I do wish all the former coaches the best. They had to do what was best for their careers. In the cases of Suaiunoa, Hynson, and Chaudhari, they likely got a salary increase and will gain additional knowledge along the way.
________________________________
With the NCAA approving a 10th assistant coach, effective January 9, Rolovich added five names to the coaching staff (Chaudhari’s replacement will come at a future date). All bring a boatload of experience. After Naeole resigned in 2017, all coaches on the Warriors staff were under 40. The five new coaches are each at least 49 years old.
On December 29, Corey Batoon was named the new defensive coordinator. Batoon, born and raised in Honolulu, has over 25 years of experience coaching on defense and special teams. He was an assistant at Ole Miss from 2012-16, and last season was an assistant at Florida Atlantic. Batoon, whose father was also a coach at Hawaii, plans to bring an attacking defense, but that starts with improving the defensive line.
On January 4, Mark Banker was introduced as assistant coach and linebackers coach. Banker is a familiar name, having previously been an assistant under Bob Wagner (outside LBs and special teams). Banker built an impressive resume with Power 5 schools such as Nebraska, Stanford, USC, and Oregon State. From 1999-2001, he was the San Diego Chargers DC. Some may also remember that Banker was a finalist for the UH head coaching job that went to Norm Chow. Banker loves to recruit local (Hawaii) talent. This hire far exceeded my expectations, and hopefully will lead to big improvements on defense. Our linebackers remain the strongest part of our defense, and Jahlani Tavai will benefit from Banker’s tutelage.
Rolovich used the American Football Coaches Association convention to interview multiple coaches, and on January 16, UH announced three coaching hires.
Mark Weber, who will coach the offensive line, has 36 years of coaching experience. Weber has coached at several Mountain West schools (Nevada, UNLV, Fresno State, and Utah State), and was a BYU assistant from 2007-12. Weber was part of Tim DeRuyter’s 2016 staff at Fresno. When Jeff Tedford officially took the Bulldog head coaching reins, Weber was out of a job. UH sorely needed an OL coach after Naeole left, and Weber may be the answer.
Ricky Logo will coach the defensive line. Logo knows Hawaii well from last season, having coached the D-linemen at Colorado State from 2015-17. When CSU DC Marty English retired at the end of the 2017 season, the entire defensive staff was let go. Logo, who has over 20 years of experience, coached future NFL stars Osi Umenyiora and Demarcus Ware at Troy University.
Andre Allen is the new receivers coach. He had spent his entire 26-year coaching career at City College of San Francisco, where Rolovich played before heading to UH. Allen had mentored every top 10 receiver in CCSF’s history, and had been CCSF’s offensive coordinator since 2005. Allen will have a mix of redshirts and veterans to work with for spring ball.
________________________________
I’m sure UH fans are saying this was long overdue, but Rolovich decided to return to the Run & Shoot, the pass-heavy offense that Rolovich himself had success with as QB during the final few games of the 2001 season. Like June Jones, Rolovich plans to call the offensive plays as head coach.
With Dru Brown’s departure (more on this below), there will be a new #1 QB in 2018.
The other returning QBs may have an edge because they have had time to develop chemistry with the receivers, but the switch to the new offense arguably puts everyone otherwise back at square one. With the signings of Jeremy Moussa and Chevan Cordeiro, Rolovich has invested in QBs who love to throw the ball. With Moussa already enrolled at UH, he and Cole McDonald are perhaps the early front-runners for the starting job. While Larry Tuileta has one more season of football eligibility, he has spent the spring seasons with the volleyball team. In 2017, Tuileta was a scout QB and assumed more of a leadership role.
The QB competition at UH has likely not been this wide open since 2008, when Greg Alexander, Inoke Funaki, Tyler Graunke, and Brent Rausch all saw playing time. We had no clear #1 QB the entire way, and then-coach Greg McMackin was not afraid to switch up QBs. Alexander started seven games, Funaki six. A quick look at the 2008 season:
- Alexander started the road season opener against Florida and struggled. 90,000+ fans didn’t help any. Rausch and Funaki played the second half.
- Funaki got the start a week later at home against Weber State, struggled, and gave way to Graunke.
- Graunke started in the blowout loss at Oregon State. Funaki also saw QB time. I was at Reser Stadium that day. I left the game a sad panda.
- Funaki and Graunke played in the loss to San Jose State.
- Funaki played the whole way in UH’s OT road win over ranked Fresno State.
- Funaki played the entire game in UH’s homecoming game against Louisiana Tech.
- Funaki started in the loss against then #15 Boise State, with Alexander coming in late.
- Funaki and Graunke played the first half against Nevada. Alexander played the second half and directed three scoring drives, including the game-winner with 20 seconds left.
- The Nevada performance earned Alexander the start against Utah State, but struggled in a loss. Funaki finished that game.
- Alexander played most of the game against New Mexico State, with Rausch and Funaki getting reps.
- Alexander got most of the playing time in a rout of Idaho. Rausch got mop-up duty.
- Alexander played the whole game in a win against Washington State. WSU was really bad then (they went 2-11 in 2008).
- Alexander played the entire season finale, a loss to Cincinnati.
- Alexander started and Funaki finished the Hawaii Bowl loss to Notre Dame. UH finished the season 7-7.
________________________________
Speaking of QBs, let’s get to the elephant in the room: the players who have transferred to date.
Dru Brown, UH’s starting QB for most of 2016 and all of 2017, announced he will transfer to Oklahoma State. Brown expects to graduate in summer 2018, which means he could play right away as a grad transfer. Since he never used his redshirt year, Brown has two years to play one season. Oklahoma State has an opening with the graduation of Mason Rudolph, yet Brown will have to beat out some other talented players. Brown, who will walk on, has family members in Texas. He reportedly also considered going to LSU, Tennessee, Washington State, or Baylor. While some people have criticized Brown for leaving, I respect his decision. As the QB, he took a lot of criticism in stride at UH. The main thing for me is that Brown leaves UH with a degree.
Quarterback Cole Brownholtz, buried on the depth chart during his two seasons at UH, transferred to FCS school Incarnate Word and can play immediately. He will have two seasons of eligibility there. He seemed to quietly leave the program; I didn’t know Brownholtz had left until after learning that Brown was going to transfer.
Dylan Collie, UH’s leading receiver in 2017, also elected to transfer for his final year of eligibility. Collie will graduate in May and try to play elsewhere as a grad transfer. Again, if he gets that degree, I’m totally cool with it. Collie was originally a BYU commit, redshirted in 2012, then went on a 2-year church mission in Richmond, VA. Apparently, right before Collie returned from his mission, he and then-OC Robert Anae did not see things the same way regarding playing time, so Collie left BYU. Chow then got Collie to transfer to UH. I’m sure BYU is among the favorites to get him back. Collie’s numbers for receptions (56), receiving yards (636), and TD receptions (4) were all more than any BYU player in 2017.
As noted above, Brandon Kipper transferred after one season to play at Oregon State. Kipper, who is from Idaho, probably saw the lure of the PAC-12 and former UH coaches (Suiaunoa and Hynson) going there. He’ll also be naturally closer to home. Kipper will need to sit out 2018, then have three seasons of eligibility. Kipper would have had a great shot at a starting spot had he stayed at UH. And yes, we play Oregon State in 2019.
Keala Santiago was the one head-scratcher for me. A home-grown product (Kahuku) who played in 22 games in his first two seasons, including 10 as a true freshman. I do hope he gets a shot elsewhere. He never redshirted, so he has three to play two. If he goes to another FBS school, he would need to sit out 2018.
________________________________
Coaching changes and transfers (whether in or out) are simply part of college football. In the coaching world, UH is unlikely to be the final stop with far more lucrative coaching jobs out there.
Look at what happened to Dave Aranda. He was there for all four seasons under McMackin: 2008-09 as DL coach and 2010-11 as DC. When McMackin retired (or resigned or forced out, depending on who you ask), Aranda was not retained. Since Aranda’s defense was notably stingy, that may have been one of Norm Chow’s first big mistakes after he became UH head coach. Aranda subsequently flourished at Utah State, Wisconsin, and LSU. When Jimbo Fisher became the head coach at Texas A&M, he wanted Aranda for his staff. In response, LSU went all in. Aranda signed a 4-year, $10 million deal to remain at LSU. That’s $2.5 million per year. And Aranda is only 41 years old, with lots of coaching years ahead of him.
UH fans can all hope that Rolovich rebounds from a sophomore slump. We know what happens if that’s not the case. If he does rebound and continues to succeed, will Rolovich stay at UH?
With respect to the transfers, we’ve also gotten some good ones. Travis LaBoy (from Utah State) was a force. We got two years of Isaac Sopoaga (College of the Canyons) before he embarked on a 10-year NFL career. Ryan Mouton and Jake Patek (Blinn) were solid. Oh, and we struck gold with that Colt Brennan dude (Colorado and Saddleback College). There are more I haven’t mentioned.
One thing is for sure: Hawaii will have a mix of new faces and grizzled veterans to lead the team.
Aaron Loves Hawaii Football 