Greg McMackin’s four-year tenure as the University of Hawaii’s head football coach came to an emotional end Monday when he accepted a retirement offer.
Barring additional paperwork, McMackin’s departure from the program is immediate.
McMackin has one year remaining on a five-year contract that pays $1.1 million annually. The agreement calls for McMackin to relinquish $500,000 of what he is owed, leaving his buyout at $600,000.
Reading from a script at Monday’s news conference, McMackin tearfully thanked Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw and his assistant coaches and players.
"In their honor," McMackin said, referring to the players, "I am forgoing $500,000 in the final year of my contract, which I hope will strengthen the UH football program."
McMackin declined to answer questions from reporters attending the news conference, including the most burning: Why?
"He volunteered to retire," athletic director Jim Donovan said. "We had a discussion (Sunday) evening, and it moved into the direction of him deciding to retire."
Donovan said associate head coach Rich Miano, a former Hawaii safety who played 11 years in the National Football League, was named interim head coach.
Miano said he was notified at "2:59 in the afternoon" Monday, a minute before McMackin was scheduled to announce the decision to the players.
Miano said Cal Lee, UH’s assistant head coach, would serve as his top assistant.
Donovan said he will convene a search committee that will provide a list of finalists.
The usual procedure is for the position to be advertised for 10 workdays. UH received a waiver to allow the applications to be reviewed as early as Dec. 13. The job opening was posted on the school’s website Monday evening.
Donovan said there is no timetable for selecting a coach. Of recent hires, it took 10 days to reach an agreement with basketball coach Gib Arnold. Another search took 21 days to complete.
Based on recent history, Donovan said, "that would be the framework. But I’m not going to limit myself to a deadline."
Donovan said he does not expect the length of the hiring process to hinder recruiting.
"If we model the 21 days, (the new coach) would have five or six weeks" to recruit, Donovan said.
Recruits may sign letters of intent with schools starting Feb. 1.
Donovan said a salary preference has not been set.
"A lot of it will depend on the quality of the candidate," Donovan said.
Donovan said there will be a nationwide search and that Hawaii ties are not a prerequisite.
Miano said he will apply for the position.
Donovan praised McMackin for boosting the Warriors’ academic progress rate, initiating a bridge session that allows incoming freshmen to earn up to six credits during the summer, and for compiling a winning record (29-25 overall), including a share of the 2010 Western Athletic Conference title.
McMackin, who was UH’s defensive coordinator in 1999 and 2007, was promoted to head coach in January 2008, three weeks before signing day for recruits. He replaced June Jones, who accepted a more lucrative offer from Southern Methodist University.
"He came into this position in a time of turmoil for this university," Hinshaw said. "I’m very grateful he accepted that role to recover that recruiting season. We all know that was not an easy role to undertake."
In counterproposals to Jones, UH made escalating offers from $1.1 million annually to $1.7 million. After Jones departed, the first counteroffer made to Jones — $1.1 million — was offered to McMackin.
McMackin, who earned $120,000 as defensive coordinator in 2007, accepted that first offer.
It was an offer made in prosperous times — the Warriors had played in the Sugar Bowl two weeks earlier — but it became a source of agitation for critics angered when expectations were not met.
In preseason media and coaches polls, the Warriors were projected to finish first in the WAC. Instead, they were 3-4 in WAC games, and a losing overall record (6-7) ousted them from consideration for the Dec. 24 Hawaii Bowl.
After a one-sided loss against Brigham Young University this past Saturday, McMackin’s UH future was in jeopardy. In September UH officials tabled negotiations on a contract extension, deciding to wait until the season’s conclusion to evaluate the program.
After the team’s awards banquet Sunday night, McMackin, Donovan and Hinshaw met in a conference room at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.
During the 90-minute meeting, the retirement offer was broached. Donovan said McMackin accepted.
Asked what would happen if McMackin had opted not to leave, Donovan said, "I’m not going to get into hypothetical situations."
Donovan added, "It was a personal decision he made."
The McMackin Years
2008
Jan. 1 — Georgia beats Hawaii 41-10 in Sugar Bowl.
Jan. 5 — June Jones resigns as UH head coach.
Jan. 7 — Jones accepts head coaching job at Southern Methodist University.
Jan. 8 — Herman Frazier fired as UH athletic director.
Jan. 15 — Greg McMackin, UH’s defensive coordinator in 1999 and 2007, named Warriors head coach. His annual salary of $1.1 million makes him the highest-paid state employee.
March 14 — Jim Donovan named UH athletic director.
Aug. 30 — Led by quarterback Tim Tebow, Florida beats UH 56-10 in McMackin’s debut as Warriors head coach.
Dec. 24 — Notre Dame defeats UH 49-21 in Hawaii Bowl.
2009
July 30 — During a speaking session at the WAC Football Media Preview, McMackin uses a gay slur to describe Notre Dame’s war dance during the Hawaii Bowl luau.
Aug. 3 — As a result of using the gay slur, McMackin is suspended for 30 days without pay. He is allowed to coach the team as a "volunteer."
Dec. 5 — With a 51-10 loss to Wisconsin, UH finishes the regular season 6-7 and fails to qualify for a bowl for the first time since 2005.
2010
Oct. 17 — In a 27-21 upset, UH delivers Nevada its only loss of the season.
Nov. 27 — Alex Green rushes for a school- record 327 yards in a 59-24 rout of New Mexico State as the Warriors earn a share of their fourth WAC football title.
Dec. 24 — Tulsa slams error-prone UH 62-35 in the Hawaii Bowl.
2011
Oct. 29 — Kenton Chun’s field goal gives UH a road victory over Idaho.
Nov. 5 — Warriors squander 28-7 lead in 35-31 loss to Utah State.
Nov. 12 — Starting quarterback Bryant Moniz suffers broken ankle in first quarter of road loss to Nevada. UH uses 12 different starting offensive lineups in 13 games because of injuries.
Nov. 26 — UH beats Tulane to even record at 6-6 and set up bowl-or-bust matchup against BYU.
Dec. 3 — BYU’s 28-point third quarter dooms UH to a losing regular season.
Dec. 4 — After team’s awards banquet, McMackin, Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw and athletic director Jim Donovan meet for more than an hour.
Dec. 5 — McMackin retires as UH head coach, accepting a $600,000 buyout.
