EL PASO, TEXAS » At least three more members of Hawaii’s 2011 football coaching staff will not be retained.

Norm Chow, who was hired as the Warriors’ head coach last week, notified defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, offensive line coach Gordy Shaw and running backs coach Brian Smith that their contracts will not be renewed.

Earlier, Rich Miano announced he would not be retained. Miano served as interim head coach after Greg McMackin signed a release agreement from his contract on Dec. 5.

UH assistant coaches have contracts that run through March 31, 2012.

"This is the hardest thing to do," said Chow, who is in El Paso to coach Utah’s offense in Saturday’s Sun Bowl. "It’s devastating. I also understand it’s a business. You know that going in. That still doesn’t make it easier. They have wives. They have children. They have mortgages. That’s why I didn’t talk to any of them until after Christmas. I didn’t want to mess up their Christmas. They understand. They’re very mature about it. The old saying is: ‘You’re not really a good coach until you get fired.’ "

Chow said the moves were made to implement his program.

Chow used Miano’s situation as an example.

"It’s not like he’s not a good coach," Chow said. "He’s obviously a good coach. He’s a very experienced guy. It has nothing to do with that, nothing to do with Rich Miano. It’s about getting guys I’m comfortable with, guys I have trust in, guys who are loyal to me. It has nothing to do with Rich Miano whatsoever."

Aranda was hired to coach the defensive ends in 2008, McMackin’s first season as UH head coach. Early in the 2009 season, Aranda began calling the defensive plays. In January 2010, Aranda was officially named the defensive coordinator.

Shaw was hired as offensive line coach in 2009, replacing Alex Gerke. Shaw is credited with signing nine Warriors.

Smith, a former UH center, was co-offensive line coach in 2008 before moving to running backs coach in 2009. He is credited with developing Alex Green, the Warriors’ only 1,000-yard rusher since the run-and-shoot offense was implemented in 1999. Green is with the Green Bay Packers.

The Warriors are in the process of hiring Lewis Powell and Philip Rauscher as assistant coaches. Powell is a student assistant on Utah’s coaching staff. Rauscher, a former offensive coordinator at Dixie State, had worked with Chow at UCLA.

The Warriors also are negotiating with three pro coaches.

"There’s not a shortage of good candidates," Chow said. "We’ll have to wait and see."

Chow said he has job requests from more than 400 coaches. One coach drove from San Diego to El Paso. Another traveled from Los Angeles to hand deliver his resume to Chow.

"I’ve been in this business a long time," Chow said. "They want to be hired. I can only hire nine (assistant coaches). What happens to the other 391 guys? I don’t know. But I’m sure every (head) coach goes through this."