The University of Hawaii football team gathered for a luau on Sunday night to reflect on the recently completed season and usher in a new era.

Nick Rolovich, 36, a former UH quarterback and offensive coordinator, will be introduced as the Rainbow Warriors’ head coach in a news conference this morning.

While Rolovich intends to focus on recruiting immediately — junior-college transfers who wish to enroll in January may sign on Dec. 16 — there already is stability at the signal-calling position. Quarterbacks Ikaika Woolsey, Beau Reilly and Aaron Zwahlen plan to remain at UH and challenge for the starting job this spring.

“All three of us, we’re going to compete,” said Reilly, who will be a third-year sophomore in 2016. “Each of us expects the best out of each other. We’re all excited for it.”

As UH’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2011, Rolovich offered a gray-shirt scholarship to Woolsey, a senior at Salesian High in Rodeo, Calif. Under the agreement, Woolsey would delay enrolling at UH until January 2012, when his five-year eligibility clock would trigger.

“He’s the one guy who gave me the opportunity,” Woolsey said of Rolovich. “He saw something in me. He’s the only one who offered me (a scholarship) out of high school. I’ve always had a sense of loyalty to that man. He’s a good man on and off the field.”

But a day after the 2011 regular-season finale, Greg McMackin was forced to resign as head coach. Rolovich, who was not retained, eventually joined Nevada as offensive coordinator. Norm Chow, the new head coach, agreed to honor Woolsey’s scholarship offer.

“Coach Chow had my back,” Woolsey said.

Woolsey, who redshirted in 2012 and started the final four games this season, is the only holdover from the 2011 recruiting class.

Reilly, a 2011 graduate of San Diego’s Valley Center High, signed with Colorado State before going on a two-year church mission. He then secured a release from his CSU commitment to join the Warriors. He redshirted in 2014 and did not take a snap in a game this past season.

“I’m in it for the long run,” said Reilly, who is married and has an infant son. “I moved my family out here. We made plans to be here and stay here.”

Reilly said he’s “only heard good things” about Rolovich.

Former UH quarterback Jeremy Higgins “said all last year he loved Rolo,” Reilly said. “I listen to Higgins a lot. Hey, good for us. I thought it was the right decision. Everybody said great things about him. … It’s good that we’re going to get a younger guy. He’s going to come in with a lot of attitude and a lot of enthusiasm.”

Dr. Lynn Zwahlen played at BYU when Chow was a Cougar graduate assistant. During a family vacation in April 2012, the Zwahlen family attended a UH spring practice. Later, Chow offered Aaron Zwahlen a scholarship. Zwahlen accepted with the intent of joining UH after a two-year church mission. Despite receiving other offers after earning a berth in ESPN’s top 300, Zwahlen stayed true, signing a letter of intent in February 2013.

Zwahlen said he chose UH because of the opportunity to be coached by Chow. The Zwahlen family and Chow remain close.

Of the coaching change, Zwahlen, who redshirted this season, said: “It’s a new coach, it’s a new experience. I’m really excited to see what (Rolovich’s) plan is, and see what’s going on next season. … I came here for a reason. I came here to play. We’ll see what happens.”