It is 5 in the morning, and University of Hawaii football coach Norm Chow is fretting.
Are they eating enough? Do they have the proper attire? How are they doing in school?
“I’d like to win, too. But I’d like to see young guys grow up and become good citizens and good men.”
Norm Chow
UH head coach
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They are his hanai sons — the 105 or so players who compose the Rainbow Warriors.
“I do care about all that,” Chow said.
There is an executive assistant to handle scheduling. There is a director of football operations to perform day-to-day chores. There is an administrative assistant to help with logistics, and two student assistants to help as needed. But it is Chow who is in charge, and his focus daily — and nightly — is on his players and assistant coaches. Micro-manager? Maybe he is a macro-worrier.
“You’re judged by wins and losses,” Chow said, but “in the end, you want people to feel good about themselves and go on to become good husbands and good fathers. That’s what you want. All that other stuff comes and goes. I’d like to win, too. But I’d like to see young guys grow up and become good citizens and good men.”
He then paused, and told a reporter: “We didn’t do it ourselves. Somebody helped us along the way.”
Chow has fought to increase the salary pool that is divided among nine full-time assistant coaches. On flights to road games, he sits in the economy section. He buys dinners for late-night coaches meetings. Make a donation to the program? Chow will send a hand-written, thank-you note.
A former player, who was on his way to Maui on a family vacation, made time for a 3-hour layover on Oahu to visit Chow and say, “hello.” On Father’s Day, he receives cards from former players.
For all his good deeds, Chow has absorbed abuse from impatient fans unhappy with the speed of the rebounding process, from loyalists to the holdover players from the previous regime, to friends who were not hired. With only sunscreen, he takes the heat.
“I think it is ultimately my responsibility,” Chow said. “Never, ever, ever blame the player … or (an assistant) coach.”
When Chow was hired in December 2011, UH was getting a decorated coach who wanted to transition from a four-wide attack to a balanced offense. He set his sights high — tall linemen, tall receivers, tall defensive ends, tall linebackers and tall corners. Chow recalled the teachings when he was USC’s offensive coordinator under Pete Carroll, now the Seattle Seahawks’ head coach.
“I learned from Pete Carroll, you always have to have a plan,” Chow said. “You can’t go anywhere without a plan. I felt we had a plan. … Having a plan doesn’t mean necessarily it will be a successful plan. But you have to have a plan. I hope we’ll have success with the plan we put together.”
In Chow’s first three seasons, there were several players who were recruited to a system that no longer was employed at UH. This year, there is only one holdover — fullback Justin Vele, a converted linebacker — from Greg McMackin’s tenure. None of the nine full-time assistant coaches from 2012 remains on staff.
“I read somewhere when you become a head coach, you lose more friends than you make, because you can only hire nine guys,” Chow said.
Chow conceded he thought the Warriors would have more success in his first three years. He also understands when outspoken critics vent.
“People have the right to feel that way,” Chow said. “Everybody wants success today. … You have to work at it. That’s the only way you can get something to be done. It’s not just going to happen.”
He then offered this parable: “I always say I’ve got two best friends. One friend is always flat-broke because he always was waiting for his ship to come in, that big hit to come in. The other guy is a farmer who works every day and is wealthy.… We’re going to keep working hard.”
Grading each position
Based on analysis from Star-Advertiser staff
Quarterbacks: 4
Running Backs: 3
Receivers: 4
Offensive Line: 4
Defensive Line: 3
Linebackers: 5
Defensive Backs: 4
Special Teams: 3
Coaches: 3
5–Excellent; 4–Good; 3–Average; 2–Subpar; 1–Poor
Strengths/Weaknesses
The Warriors have more size and speed at key positions than they did the previous three seasons. Depth, particularly on the defensive line, is a concern for a team that plays 13 weeks in a row without a bye.
Chow’s record
His three seasons at the University of Hawaii
2012: 3 Wins / 9 Losses
2013: 1 Win / 11 Losses
2014: 4 Wins / 9 Losses
