Former University of Hawaii football player Jake Ingram is ready to buy tickets — game tickets and plane tickets.

“With Rolo coaching, I’m going to go to the (UH) games,” said Ingram, a police officer on Maui, of newly hired UH head coach Nick Rolovich. “In my eyes this is a great move. He’ll be a great Hawaii coach. I don’t care about legroom (on the plane). I’ll fly back for Rolo.”

On Friday Rolovich, 36, a former UH quarterback and offensive coordinator, was named successor to Norm Chow, who was fired Nov. 1. Rolovich was Nevada’s offensive coordinator the past four seasons. He will be introduced as Rainbow Warriors head coach during a news conference Monday, then begin work immediately for UH.

“It’s great for him and it’s great for Hawaii,” said Dan Morrison, who was UH’s quarterbacks coach when Rolovich played for the Warriors in 2000 and 2001. “He’s a good young man with a good heart. He loves Hawaii. I wish him the absolute best.”

Morrison recalled how Rolovich immersed himself in UH’s run-and-shoot offense. After a career in the Arena Football League and a coaching stint at City College of San Francisco, Rolovich joined the UH coaching staff in 2008.

“He was growing as a coach,” Morrison said. “He was taking a lot of notes on how to get things done. He was really paying attention to the larger picture besides X’s and O’s. You could tell he was growing up and maturing and paying attention to the larger picture.”

Ron Lee was UH’s offensive coordinator before ceding the play-calling job to Rolovich in 2009.

“There was something special about Rolo,” Lee said. “He had that leadership skill. People gathered around him. Even as a player, that was the biggest quality about him. He understood the offense.”

As a player, Rolovich and his roommate Brian Smith, the center, practiced snapping the ball in the hallway of their rented house.

Even then, former teammate Ashley Lelie recalled, “Rolo wanted to be a coach. He’s an intelligent guy and a fun-loving guy. It’s hard not to like to him. He always had the ability to calm you down. He never let the moment get bigger than him.”

Wideout Greg Salas developed into a go-to receiver — and NFL draft pick — under Rolovich.

“He’s a player’s coach,” Salas said. “He’s relatable. He gets young people. He’s seen it all, and he knows how to explain it. He’s fun to play for. He’s one of my favorite coaches.”

Athletic director David Matlin noted that Rolovich learned under former UH head coach June Jones and Mouse Davis, inventor of the run-and-shoot offense. Rolovich also grasped the pistol offense at Nevada under Chris Ault. Rolovich also was a player and coach under George Rush at City College of San Francisco.

“I think he’s had great mentors,” Matlin said. “I think great leaders come from great mentors.”

Jones, who was also a finalist for the job, said, “Rolo is one of my favorite players I have ever coached. He will do an outstanding job for the university and our state.”