The National Football League is not as much about making the cut as surviving it.

Each year, the Washington Redskins brought in linebackers who were faster and stronger than Kurt Gouveia.

"He wasn’t extra big," UH coach Norm Chow said of Gouveia. "He had good skills, obviously. They said he ran a 4.6 (in the 40-yard dash) and the next guy ran a 4.4. But when you look at the tapes on running down on kickoffs, Kurt was always the first one there. That’s why he hung around so long."

When it was time to hire a linebackers coach to replace Tony Tuioti this past spring, Chow thought of Gouveia. Chow had recruited Gouveia to Brigham Young three decades earlier.

Chow recalled a television interview in which a linebacker was asked how he knew where to go all the time.

"He said, ‘I just ask Kurt, and he tells me,’ " Chow said.

Gouveia’s knowledge, calm-but-firm teaching style and a willingness to demonstrate techniques on creaky knees has endeared him to UH’s outside linebackers.

Gouveia also works well with Kevin Clune, the new defensive coordinator. Clune mapped the Warriors’ 3-4 scheme, a shift from last year’s 4-3 base. Clune oversees the inside linebackers.

Two days before the start of the 2013 training camp, Aaron Price was dismissed as offensive coordinator. It was decided to honor Price’s contract, which ran through March 2014. That meant graduate assistants Jordan Wynn and Luke Matthews would be given expanded roles. Wynn coached the quarterbacks and assisted in play-calling; Matthews handled the receivers. This year, both were promoted to full-time coaches. Wayne Moses was added as running backs coach.

When Chow was Utah’s offensive coordinator in 2011, Wynn was the Utes’ quarterback. Chow was hired as UH’s head coach that December.

Early in the 2012 season, Wynn suffered a career-ending shoulder injury.

"If Jordan were a little bit healthier physically, he’d probably be an NFL quarterback," Chow said. "He’s that good. He’s that smart. Some guys have it, some don’t. Jordan has it."

Chow called Wynn with a GA offer.

"I think it perked him up a little bit," Chow said. "He took advantage of it, and is doing a nice job."

Chow added that Moses "is a huge help because of his experience."