Tommy Lee is expected to announce his retirement today as the Hawaii football team’s offensive coordinator and receivers coach, family members confirmed.
Lee had earlier notified UH head coach Norm Chow, but wanted to delay a public announcement until today.
Lee and his wife, Haunani, depart Honolulu today for Utah, where they will spend time with one of their sons and his family.
It will be an amicable departure for the 71-year-old Lee. He wishes to spend more time with children and grandchildren in Utah and San Francisco. The Lees also own a house in Dillon, Mont.
Lee retired as Montana Western’s head coach in 2007.
He served as a football consultant at Montana in 2011, when he received a call from Chow, a long-time family friend.
Chow coaxed Lee into joining the Warriors.
Lee’s younger brothers — Ron Lee and Cal Lee —are former UH coordinators and successful high school coaches at Kaiser High and Saint Louis School. Both are currently on Kalani High’s coaching staff.
Tommy Lee was a star quarterback at Saint Louis and Willamette College, which competed in the NAIA.
Lee has coached on the professional level with San Antonio of the World Football League and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. He was Utah’s offensive coordinator for three seasons before being named Montana Western’s head coach in 2001.
At UH, Lee helped prepare the offensive game plan. During games, he worked in the coaches booth, relaying observations and information to Chow, who called the plays.
It is not known when UH will find a successor to Lee.
This is a dead period in recruiting, meaning UH is limited to a weekly call to each recruit. The coaches are allowed in-person visits again beginning Jan. 3.
