The search for Hawaii’s next football head coach is entering the second stage, with at least four applicants contacted about in-person interviews.
Texas assistant head coach Duane Akina, Oregon State defensive coordinator Mark Banker and Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter have been contacted about meeting with the six-member search-advisory committee, people familiar with the situation said.
A fourth applicant reportedly has been contacted, but he has requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of his job situation.
As of Thursday afternoon, logistics and schedules were not finalized.
A successor is sought for Greg McMackin, who reached a "release agreement" with UH on Dec. 5, two days after the Warriors lost the regular-season finale to Brigham Young to finish with a 6-7 record. McMackin was 29-25 in four seasons as UH head coach.
Akina is a Punahou School graduate who played quarterback at Washington. He then served two years as a graduate assistant there.
After that, Akina spent five seasons as a UH assistant coach. After a year coaching in Canada, he was reunited with former UH head coach Dick Tomey at Arizona. Under Tomey, Akina was the Wildcats’ offensive coordinator and associate head coach.
Among his many roles at Texas, Akina was the co-defensive coordinator before being named assistant head coach.
Banker was UH’s linebackers coach in 1995, Bob Wagner’s final season as head coach. He was hired based on the recommendation of former UH coach Bob Burt. Banker and Burt were on the same staff at Cal State Northridge.
After leaving UH, Banker served as a graduate assistant at Southern California in 1996. Banker then coached with Oregon State, the San Diego Chargers and Stanford before returning to OSU. He is the Beavers’ point recruiter in Hawaii.
Koetter was head coach at Boise State for three years and at Arizona State for six seasons. In 2007, he joined the Jaguars as offensive coordinator. Earlier this season, Jack Del Rio was fired as the Jaguars’ head coach.
There have been more than 40 applicants for the UH job. A spokesman said applications are still being accepted.