After every University of Hawaii football practice, defensive coordinator Tom Mason begins his cardiovascular workout.

He will run, in whatever direction or path, for 30 minutes. His workout, much like his tenure with the Rainbow Warriors, has a time limit.

"When I took this job," said Mason, whose one-year contract started on March 1, "I knew I was getting into a situation where I might be out of work by the end of the year."

That became a probability when Norm Chow was fired as head coach on Nov. 1. Two days later, the assistant coaches received "termination" notices that their current contracts would not be renewed, although they can apply to be on the next head coach’s staff.

The coaches have continued to work hard and, under interim head coach Chris Naeole, the practices have been spirited and energetic.

"You do it for the love of the game, for the love of the kids," Mason said of the coaches’ positive outlook. "If I were a normal guy, I’d be really worried about (job security). I’m not normal. I’ll find something to do. I might go to Wal-Mart and be a greeter or something. I’ll get through it. They can’t shoot you. That’s the bottom line. You’re not dead. Shoot, let’s move on. I’ll find something to do. I’d love to stay in (coaching), and I think I’ve got five to 10 more good years. But we’ll see what happens."

Don Bailey also joined in March as the Rainbow Warriors’ offensive coordinator. Bailey and his wife have four children.

"My family understands the business," Bailey said. "They’ve been in it for a long time. And they’re very supportive, and I love them for that. And that allows me to do the best job I possibly can."

Bailey said his parents still live in the same house where he was raised in Vancouver, Wash. But Bailey has had nine jobs during his coaching career.

"For me, I don’t really have to have a place to call home," Bailey said. "Wherever I am, that’s home."

These days, home is in a gated community in Ewa Beach.

"I really love it here in Hawaii," Bailey said. "People have been great. People have been great to my family, and I appreciate everybody."

Bailey said his wife is a "saint" who stresses academics to their children. She also has "taken everything in stride," Bailey said, at every coaching stop.

"It’s awesome to let me do what I love, and it’s not a job to me," Bailey said. "This is fun, man. Football is fun. It’s not supposed to be work. We get to play football and not work football."

Bailey and Mason have focused on the Warriors’ final three games of this season, beginning with Saturday’s game against Fresno State at Aloha Stadium.

"There’s still a lot of season left," Bailey said. "We owe it to the players to do the best job we can and prepare — and we expect the same from them."

Mason said: "It’s about the kids. It’s not about the other stuff right now. You’re committed to finishing out the season as good as you can. It’s the competitiveness in you as a coach. I’ve never gone into a game I didn’t think I could win."