UH search begins

At the end of the state’s business hours Monday, there were 30 applicants seeking to be the next Hawaii head coach for football.

UH did not release the names of the applicants, but the Star-Advertiser has learned that the list includes two members of the current Warriors staff in associate head coach Rich Miano and director of player personnel George Lumpkin, as well as Utah offensive coordinator Norm Chow, coaches from Oregon State, Baylor, Texas, Navy and an entry from an NFL team.

Dirk Koetter, offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars, has applied for the job, sources said. Koetter coached Arizona State when the Sun Devils played UH in the 2006 Hawaii Bowl. Prior to that he was the head coach at Boise State.

The Jaguars fired their head coach, Jack Del Rio, on Nov. 29.

UH’s six-member search-advisory committee convened Monday for the first time, and the group was permitted to review applications after 4:30 p.m.

Applications are still being accepted, although the committee is free to arrange interviews with those deemed as top-qualifying candidates.

It was announced last week Monday that Greg McMackin reached a retirement agreement after four seasons as UH head coach. As part of the arrangement, he received a buyout of $600,000, more than half of the $1.1 million he was owed on a five-year contract that was to expire Jan. 15, 2013. The vacancy was posted that afternoon on UH’s website.

UH’s usual practice is a waiting period of 10 work days before the applications may be reviewed. UH received support from HGEA, the union representing state workers, to shorten the waiting period to five work days.

Because each candidate has different availability for an interview with the committee, there is no timetable in choosing the next head coach.

In recent UH searches, the committee has conducted in-person interviews in Hawaii and on the mainland. It has not been determined where or when this committee will meet with candidates.

Others who have reportedly applied are Oregon State defensive coordinator Mark Banker and assistant coach Mike Cavanaugh; Baylor associate head coach Brian Norwood; Texas assistant coach Duane Akina; Navy offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper; Georgia Tech assistant coach Buzz Preston; and City College of San Francisco head coach George Rush.