The Hawaii football team’s newest graduate-assistant coach is a former college student-athlete who maintains an active lifestyle.

"I figured out I don’t need to have any limitations," said Luke Matthews, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 9 years old.

Matthews recalled being "really sick," with strep throat as the initial diagnosis.

"I wasn’t getting better," Matthews said. "They eventually found out I had type 1 diabetes."

While it was challenging to have diabetes, he said, the early diagnosis helped "incorporate" managing the disease as "part of my lifestyle."

"Other people have to incorporate things into their lifestyles," Matthews said. "This is something I had to incorporate into mine. I don’t let it hold me back from doing anything."

Matthews had a relatively successful career as a receiver at the University of Utah. He said an insulin pump, which he began using as a junior in high school, enabled him to remain active while monitoring his blood-sugar level.

"The pump gives me automatic injections throughout the day," he said. "When I eat and my blood sugar is too high, I have to insert that in. Rather than carry around a bunch of syringes, the insulin pump is easy. It’s always attached."

While he practiced or played in games, the tube remained attached to his hip. He then removed the cord and accompanying pump. During breaks, he re-attached the pump.

If the tube is dislodged, he said, "I can put one back in pretty quickly."

Norm Chow was Utah’s offensive coordinator in 2011. That December, Chow was named UH’s head coach. Chow hired Utah interns Phil Rauscher and Lewis Powell as assistant coaches. This January, former Utah quarterback Jordan Wynn was hired as graduate-assistant coach.

Matthews said Chow’s offer to join the UH staff "was too good of an opportunity to pass up. (Coaching) is something I always wanted to do."

Matthews will work with the UH receivers.

Matthews’ official first day of work is July 28. But he said he will arrive in Honolulu next week to get acclimated.

"I’m excited to get out there," he said.