On the way to clearing out his locker this week after 13 years on the University of Texas football coaching staff, Duane Akina was asked what looms next.

"Well, my brother (Gary) might have an opening on the coaching staff for his ninth-grade team at Punahou," Akina deadpanned.

After helping to put 28 defensive backs in the NFL, it is unlikely to come to that for Akina.

With 32 years in Division I football spread across the University of Hawaii, Arizona and Texas, be assured Akina will land on his feet someplace.

Which is why Norm Chow might want to make a call sooner rather than later to see if Manoa could, just maybe, be that place.

Fact is, after a 4-20 start, Chow could use help for what sets up as a make-or-break third season in 2014. Lots of help.

This is where Akina, who has served multiple seasons each as an offensive coordinator (Arizona), defensive coordinator (Texas) and assistant head coach (Texas) comes in. Or could.

We’ve heard how Chow has had his hands full trying to be all the things that a head coach must be in a mid-major program. All the while overseeing the offense last year when Aaron Price was cut loose before the first fall practice.

Well, this is a way to lessen that load and upgrade the staff when both are of necessity. 

When UH had its recent opening for a defensive coordinator, there wasn’t much percentage in soliciting Akina, who was still waiting to see how the Mack Brown-to-Charlie Strong transition was going to shake out in Austin.

Nor could UH have hoped to approach the $439,500 annual salary Akina was making with the Longhorns earlier. If the Chicago Bears couldn’t pry Akina away from Austin, he wasn’t leaving until the Longhorns said adios.   

But that changed over the weekend with the 52-year-old Punahou School graduate back on the market. What was viewed with surprise in Austin sure looks a lot like a potential opportunity from here.

The resume is compelling. Akina was Warren Moon’s backup at quarterback at Washington and helped make Texas known as "DBU" for all the defensive backs the Longhorns sent to the NFL. Akina has been the right-hand man for Dick Tomey and Brown. Tomey has called him one of the "most unselfish coaches in the business." Twice Akina has been a candidate for the head coaching job at UH, most recently for the position that went to Chow.

As Chow now goes about filling his final openings on the Rainbow Warriors’ coaching staff, it wouldn’t take much rejiggering to find areas where he can make a contribution. Not because Akina is looking for a job for the second time in 33 years, but because UH needs what he can bring.

Of course, it is no certainty that UH can come up with a package that entices Akina back home, perhaps something of a long shot. But at this point, it doesn’t hurt to try. What would hurt is if there wasn’t an all-out effort.

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Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.