Coach Chow wows 'em at first public appearance in Hawaii

PHOTO BY DENNIS ODA / doda@staradvertiser.com

University of Hawaii head football coach Norm Chow makes his first public appearance at the Hukilau in Executive Center Hotel downtown.

New University of Hawaii football coach Norm Chow was engaging and entertaining in his first public appearance today at the Hukilau restaurant in downtown Honolulu.

Chow introduced his coaching staff and answered an array of questions from the audience, covering recruiting to facilities.

He acknowledged the recent success of the UH football program, but added that "we want to elevate it."

He said success starts with recruiting, an area he wanted to improve while emphasizing local recruiting.

"Recruiting is the most important thing we do in college football," Chow told the audience.

Chow, a long-time BYU offensive coordinator who recruited players away from UH, now must do an about face, asking athletes to stay home.

He said you don't have to go to schools such as Oregon to get exposure or get noticed.

Chow also talked about capital improvements at UH, "so we're not shame to show our facilities to recruits."

Right now, Chow said, he wasn't sure if he wanted to show recruits the locker room.

But many of his other responses drew laughter.

When asked who would be his offensive coordinator, Chow said: "If the play is successful, then it's me. If the play is not successful, then it's Tommy (Lee)."

Chow added that it wasn't about him, Lee, who was named to the staff Tuesday, or anybody else, but it was about us.

"Collectively, we're going to get this thing done," he said.