Mentor’s persistence keeps Chun in the game

As the story goes, Hawaii kicker Kenton Chun failed a walk-on tryout with the Warriors in February 2010.

Little known was that Chun had a private second tryout two months later.

And Chris Tormey, who was UH’s special teams coordinator at the time, rejected Chun a second time.

All of which makes more remarkable Chun’s rags-to-rags-to-riches story.

Chun passed a third tryout in February, earned a berth on the Warriors’ 2011 roster and, this past Saturday, kicked the winning 35-yard field goal in a 16-14 road victory against Idaho.

Monday, Chun was named the Western Athletic Conference’s player of the week for special teams.

After the Idaho game, Chun praised Peter Kim, a former UH and Alabama kicker. When Chun was a Saint Louis School senior, Kim served as his kicking coach.

"Ever since then, I held on to him," Chun has said. "I wouldn’t let him go after what he did for me."

Kim continued as a consultant when Chun was at Southern Oregon. It was at Kim’s urging that Chun entered a tryout for walk-on berths at UH.

After Chun struggled in that audition, Kim refused to give up. In April 2010, Kim traveled to Carson, Calif., where UH was conducting its pro day for National Football League scouts.

"Peter Kim begged us to give (Chun) a second chance," said UH associate head coach Rich Miano, UH’s pro liaison and coordinator of the walk-on program.

Kim had insisted Chun’s rocky first audition did not reflect his ability.

"We gave him a second chance," Miano said. "He came out on a Monday afternoon. And Tormey cut him again."

And that was supposed to be that. Then Kim called again earlier this year.

This time, Chun converted all six of his attempts, impressing Dick Tomey, the newly hired special teams coordinator.

Miano said the Warriors have sought local kickers as walk-ons since the 1970s.

"Worst scenario is they’re not good enough," Miano said. "Best scenario is they get to play and, if there’s an opening, they get a scholarship."

Miano said KIm played a large role in Chun’s success.

"Peter Kim said from under 40 yards, this kid’s money," Miano recalled. "Kenton’s success is a lot because of Peter Kims perseverance."